Ice Patches and Obsidian Quarries: Integrating Research Through Collaborative Archaeology in Tahltan Territory

ABSTRACT

This article presents the results of archaeological survey of ice patches in the vicinity of the vast obsidian quarries and artifact scatters found near Goat Mountain and the Kitsu Plateau in Mount Edziza Provincial Park, Tahltan Territory. During the survey, over 50 perishable artifacts were found, including stitched birch bark containers, wooden walking staffs, carved and beveled sticks, an atlatl dart foreshaft, and a stitched hide boot. Radiocarbon ages on 13 of the perishable artifacts reveal that they span the last 7000 years. These finds were made against a massive and stunning backdrop of scattered obsidian artifacts: bifaces, cores, flakes, and raw material nodules. This project collaborated with the Obsidian Discoveries Tahltan Tene Mehodihi Youth Group Hike and the “Our Ancestors’ Trail” museum exhibition. This collaboration resulted in connections between the archaeological results presented here, community learning, and artistic inspiration.

KEYWORDS:

• ice patch archaeology
• western Subarctic
• Tahltan
• obsidian
• Mount Edziza

Geolocation

9 V 403159.59 m E 6376509.64 m N

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the BC Parks License Plate Program and the Tahltan Central Government. Many thanks to the individuals and organizations that helped support this project. Tahltan Central Government: George Dennis, Christine Creyke, Nalaine Morin, Roxanne Ball, Cindy Dennis, and Sandra Marion. Lesli Louie is thanked for providing Tahltan words used in the text. BC Parks: Michael Janzen, Mike Neto, Daniel Kriss, Darren Fillier, and Sarah Burger. Obsidian Discoveries Tahltan Tene Mehodihi Youth Group Hike: Curtis Rattray, Tsēmā Igharas, Nathan Skubovius, Hayle Gallup, and the Tahltan youth who participated. Our Ancestors’ Trail Art and Archaeology Exhibition at the Laboratory of Archaeology, University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology: Tsēmā Igharas, Sophia Biedka, Sage Novak, Una-ann Moyer, Ocean Van Mierlo, Freya Podlasly, Brendan Gray, Nadja Kunz, Candis Callison, Curtis Rattray, Nathan Skubovius, Shesley Callison-Hanna, Susan Rowley, and Duncan McLaren. Field archaeologists: George Dennis, Duncan McLaren, Brendan Gray, and George Kaufmann. Royal BC Museum: Sebastian Blackthorne, Grant Keddie, Genevieve Hill, Megan Doxsey-Whitfield, and Kendrick Marr. BC Archaeology Branch: Eric Forgeng and Drew MacLennan. Lakelse Air. Many others provided information that was pertinent to the success of this project: Vera Asp, Verna Vance, Johnny Bob, Rudy Day, Norm McLean, Glen McKay, Christian Thomas, Rudy Reimer, Knut Fladmark, Shannon Croft, Ian Spooner, Jacob Salem-Hartley, Ursula Abramczyk, and Todd Kristensen.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 The Tene Mehodihi program, which means “The Trail We Know” in Tāłtān, was established as a land-based education program in 2015 to prepare future generations of Tahltans to thrive through a distinctive integration of Indigenous and Western knowledge. The program runs throughout Tahltan territory, including a special Obsidian Discoveries trip to Kitsu Plateau in 2019. By providing an opportunity to see and experience their extraordinary territory, Tahltan youth reconnect with their ancestors, land, and culture. Tene Mehodihi brings youth to ancestral trails that connect communities, cultural sites, and, now, mining and exploration projects. Discoveries are made as youth realize what is at stake (land, food, and culture) in decisions made in and about their territory, and they learn how they might contribute towards desirable outcomes for Tahltan society. At the same time, Tene Mehodihi affirms Tahltan identity and knowledge as youth work together on projects in collaboration with artists, scientists, and a wide range of professionals who represent different and tangible career opportunities available to them.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Duncan McLaren

Duncan McLaren (Ph.D. 2008, University of Victoria) is an archaeologist affiliated with Cordillera Archaeology, the Hakai Institute, and the University of Victoria.

Brendan Gray

Brendan Gray (M.A., University of Victoria) is an archaeologist affiliated with Cordillera Archaeology.

Rosemary Loring

Rosemary Loring is Tahltan and a cultural heritage researcher with the Tahltan Central Government

Ts̱ēmā Igharas

Ts̱ēmā Igharas (M.A., OCAD U) is an interdisciplinary artist and member of the Tahltan Nation.

Rolf Mathewes

Rolf Mathewes (Ph.D., University of British Columbia) specializes in biology, earth sciences, and archaeology at Simon Fraser University.

Lesli Louie

Lesli Louie works with the Language and Culture Departments at the Tahltan Central Government.

Megan Doxsey-Whitfield

Megan Doxsey-Whitfield (M.A.C., Queen’s University) is an objects conservator at the Royal BC Museum.

Genevieve Hill

Genevieve Hill (Ph.D., University of Exeter) is an archaeological curator at the Royal BC Museum.

Kendrick Marr

Kendrick Marr (Ph.D., University of British Columbia) is the botany curator with the Royal BC Museum.