ABSTRACT

This paper presents a reinvestigation of archaeological material at Rat Island (AhGx-7), a proposed Princess Point period site in Cootes Paradise, Ontario, Canada. Applying a minimally invasive coring and augering strategy paired with soil properties and high-resolution multi-element chemical evaluation, we established that a low rise on the landscape, previously attributed to Princess Point or Woodland period occupation, is instead associated with the a.d. 1830s construction of the Desjardins Canal. Comparing the distribution of anthropogenically associated chemicals across Rat Island, our results suggest that the portion of the Island impacted by canal construction likely contained the most intense evidence for human occupation. Furthermore, the distributions of chemicals across undisturbed portions of Rat Island fail to support previously postulated settlement patterning models, suggesting instead a location of variable and potentially ephemeral occupation. This study establishes the utility of core and auger sampling and Itrax™ multi-element analysis when seeking to understand site formation, presenting an alternative to more time-consuming excavation strategies.

摘要

本文介绍了对鼠岛 (AhGx-7) 考古材料的重新调查，鼠岛是加拿大安大略省 Cootes Paradise 的拟建公主点遗址。应用微创取心和钻孔策略与土壤特性和高分辨率多元素化学评估相结合，我们确定景观上的低层建筑，以前归因于公主点或林地时期的占领，而不是与广告相关1830 年代建造的 Desjardins 运河。比较大鼠岛上与人为相关的化学物质的分布，我们的结果表明，岛上受运河建设影响的部分可能包含最强烈的人类占领证据。此外，鼠岛未受干扰部分的化学物质分布不支持先前假设的定居点模式模型，而是表明可变且可能短暂的占用位置。本研究确定了岩心和螺旋钻取样以及 Itrax™ 多元素分析在寻求了解场地形成时的效用，提出了一种替代更耗时的挖掘策略的方法。