4.2 HISTORIC PERIOD ARTIFACTS (CONTINUED)

4.23 Buttons

Michael Barnes

A total of 5 buttons were found at the North Bank site during 1997 excavations. One button was recovered from1992 John Pollock & Peter Bullock's 1992 testing of the underwater midden, part of the Bothwell Island Site ( CbGu-5).

Specimens 97-201 have been determined to be modern plastic buttons.

4.2.4 Glass

Michael Barnes

The following section on glass has not been grouped with another category (architectural, or personal etc.) due to its multi-purpose use. As will be noted in this discussion, glass comes in all of these categories, ranging from cosmetic mirrors, to window glass. A large quantity of glass was available for study in this assemblage, however it was decided that glass recovered from modern fill layers (predominantly beverage bottles) will not be analysed for discussion.

The basis of analysis follows The Parks Canada Glass Glossary including the division of categories, and glass terminology.

CONTAINER GLASS

This category includes all commercial bottles and jars. As previously indicated container glass was largely represented from modern fill layers at the North Bank Site, and these fragments will not be discussed further. However one glass fragment was notable for its earlier characteristics, specimen 97-11.

This specimen is of dark green glass and contains internal fractures. Internal fractures are often found on specimens from archaeological sites where the glass has been exposed to heat. Other features on this specimen include pitting. Pitting is used to describe glass that has deep depressed scars on the surface, and also occurs when glass is exposed to heat. The subcategory of this container can only be termed undiagnostic, due the its fragmentary nature. This prevents further discussion of the specific use the container served.

The fragment most likely represents a basal portion. Two parallel surfaces (which most likely represent the superior and inferior portion of the base) measure 13.86mm in thickness.

This attribute indicates that this specimen is clearly not modern. Further discussion concerning the specific date of this specimen would be speculation. A larger sample size may lead to interesting dates (possibly 17^th century) which may be possible following future excavations.

4.2. 5 Gunflints

Michael Barnes

Two gunflints were recovered from 1992 surface collections from the North Bank site. Below technological descriptions are presented utilizing terminology from Stone (1974), which is discussed in greater detail in section 6.2.6. Table 8 below outlines the technological descriptions of gunflints recovered from the North Bank site.

Table 8. Technological descriptions of gunflints recovered from the North Bank site (CbGu-1).

Again, as in other artifact categories, recoveries of European artifacts are low. The two specimens representative of the North Bank were not discovered in situ, and therefore may or may not be directly associated with the site, although one would expect them to be found in future excavations.

CONCLUSIONS

Both specimens appear to be spall gunflints. Spall gunflints tend to be dated between c. 1650 and 1770 (see section 6.2.6). Although these specimens were surface collections and not found in situ, there does not seem to be evidence of water-tumbling, and are in good condition. Therefore the possibility that there is a 17^th to 18^th century component within the North Bank must be considered. Specimen 1-92-36b has evidently been used with a fire-steel, and quite oppositely, specimen 1-92-36a seems to show little sign of re-use besides a fractured front (which has most likely occurred from use with a firearm).

4.2.6 Beads

Michael Barnes

Glass beads were a common trade item after European contact. Typically, trade beads are placed in such categories as drawn and wound beads, monochrome and polychrome beads, rosary and embroidery beads. The majority of beads in this assemblage were recovered from the Island site (CbGu-5), and will be discussed in more detail in section 6.2.7. The method of bead classification follows Kidd and Kidd (1970). Most beads are discussed in this section and 6.2.7., however all beads have been given full technological descriptions in the Appendix on "Bead Inventory".

A total of 5 beads were recovered from the 1992 preliminary work and 1997 Settlement Survey Ltd. excavations. Two glass beads, from the "medium" size category, were recovered from the North Bank. These beads were monochrome and circular and typed IIa*.

One particular bead of interest recovered from the North Bank site was a round, kaolin clay bead. This bead is almost perfectly spherical and measures 6-7mm throughout its circumference. The most probable material of the bead is kaolin. As pointed out in the pipe section, this should not be confused with white ball clay. The bore diameter is similar to most pipe stems (4/64"). The bead has likely been fashioned from a pipe stem. The greatest support for this, besides visual cues, is the darker staining on the interior of the bore, probably caused by tobacco. Other sites have reported on such instances of beads fashioned from kaolin (Karklins 1983:89-90) including the Bothwell/ La Vase Island Site (Julig, Personal Communication, 1998).

This bead as far as the author has researched, is the first of its kind in representing a round, spherical kaolin bead. The bead's exterior does not show evidence of grinding and/or working, and may have been smoothed by polishing.

CONCLUSIONS

The North Bank site seems to be nearly devoid of glass beads. The only glass beads recovered in situ thus far have been from the 1996 excavations by Laurentian University. Excavations carried out by Settlement Surveys Ltd., unearthed a total of 5 glass and non-glass beads. Defonzo (1996) found 1 bead in fill layers, which was apparently modern.

The general absence of glass beads from the North Bank site should not be attributed to modern disturbances or City Park filling and other general disturbance. The assemblage of glass beads from the North Bank cannot be definitive in attributing a date or affiliation. The beads found both from surface collections and in situ are mainly small to medium size, round, or circular beads. One wound bead type WIc* was found during 1992 surface collections, but can not be dated.

The only bead found during 1997 excavations from the North Bank site was that of a round kaolin (not ball clay ) bead. This bead was most likely fashioned from a kaolin pipe stem, as depicted from the bore diameter, and tobacco staining on the inside surface of the bore. Kaolin beads have been previously reported on the Island site from Laurentian University, but not from the North Bank site.

The lack of bead recoveries from the North Bank should not be surprising due to the general lack of, and highly scattered Euro-Canadian artifacts. Recoveries of seed and kaolin beads to date are not significant enough to draw any conclusions from. This may change with the results from further excavations. Future excavations at both sites should include a wet-screening technique to determine the presence of seed beads from the North Bank, since this practice has not been followed during the previous excavations.

4.2.7 European Ceramics

Jonathan Ferguson

Only two Euro-Canadian ceramic sherds (Cat. Nos. 97-181 and 97-223) were recovered from the LaVase North Bank Site during the 1997 excavations. None were found during the 1992 field season. The sherds are glazed, refined white earthenware with no decoration or other marking. Both are flat and thus appear to be base sherds. Unfortunately, these sherds are both quite small and no further analysis of them is possible.

Fourteen ceramic sherds were recovered from CbGu-1 in 1995, of which nine were plain (Archaeological Services Inc. 1996: 105). In 1996, the Laurentian University field school unearthed white earthenware (e.g. Cat. Nos. 96-11 and 96-249), of which some proportion was decorated (Patrick Julig, Laurentian University 1998: personal communication). Later that same year, the City of North Bay excavations recovered one fragmentary microsherd, catalogue number 96a-51 (Defonzo 1997: 10). Because of the small size and undiagnostic nature of the 1997 sherds, however, no comparative analysis can be carried out.

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