by R. Defonzo
Submitted to The Corporation of the City of North Bay

Summary

During the months of September and October 1996 an archaeological dig in Champlain Park, North Bay, ON., was conducted under the direction of Mr. R. Defonzo, License No. 96-093. The excavation centered in the northern half of the La Vase North Bank site (CbGu- 1) in an effort to explore characteristics of the northern paleosol (Figure 1). An attempt was made to locate, record, and analyze the site's northern boundaries. Fragments of prehistoric material from the site Woodland period (c. 1400-1650) were unearthed, such as lithic and ceramic scatters. As well, twentieth century park refuse was also abundant. The prehistoric material found in the fall excavation was a welcome addition to information gathered through previous excavations. These finds represent the remains of human occupation in an area where the probability of finding artifacts was low compared to an artifact-saturated area 25.0 metres south (Appendix A).

Introduction

Originally registered by J.V. Wright in 1961 and excavated previously by Archaeological Services Inc. (1995) and Dr. P. Julig of Laurentian University (May-June 1996) the La Vase North Bank site (CbGu- 1), located at the mouth of the La Vase River in North Bay, Ontario, was once again the site of archaeological activity. In September and October of 1996 a public excavation was conducted by the author: the objectives were twofold. Firstly, the opportunity was provided for volunteer, public participation in an archaeological excavation; historical awareness of the North Bay area was also developed. Secondly, most of the archaeology done previous to the fall 1996 excavation took place on the southern end of a low ridge on the north bank of the La Vase River, close to the river outlet into Lake Nipissing (Figure 1). Therefore, the purpose of the 1996 fall excavation, documented in this report, was to ascertain and compare the paleosol contents north of the previously excavated southern area. Thus, conclusions could be drawn regarding the site in its entirety. In order to achieve this second goal, eleven 1.0 metre square units were excavated approximately 25.0 metres north of the previously excavated area, along the 200 East grid line. The area approximately 20.0 metres north of the 490 North grid line was left unexcavated due to a personal request by Dr. P. Julig, who may want to excavate these specific locations in the future.

Background

The Archaeological Services Inc. excavation in 1995, (after test-pitting the entire area of Champlain Park), excavated a total of 22 one metre units in order to determine temporal and cultural affiliations of the site through analysis of the cultural remains (Cooper and Robertson 1996:85-6, Figure 1). Their artifact assemblage did provide evidence of Late Woodland (1200-1650) and Euro-Canadian (1650 ff.) occupation which existed on a high ridge on the northern embankment of the La Vase River (Cooper and Robertson 1996:104). They estimated the size of the site to be approximately 500 square metres from information retrieved during their initial test pit survey (Ibid.). There were, however, no positive test pits in the park 30.0 to 35.0 metres north of the 490 North grid line.

In May and June of the next year Dr. P. Julig directed an excavation at the site on behalf of Laurentian University and the Corporation of the City of North Bay. The geographical focus of the excavation was again centred upon the southern half of the ridge; the same location which was partially excavated by ASI. Julig and his team found remains consistent with those found by ASI as well as earlier material dating to the Middle Woodland period (500-900); such as ceramics with a pseudo-scallop shell motif and Knife River Flint, a chert type associated with the Middle Woodland. Therefore, other than the initial test pitting and five 1.0 metre units dug by ASI close to the 500 North grid line, there had been very little excavation in the northern ridge portion of the site until a project was proposed by the author and Corporation of the City of North Bay for the fall of 1996.

Methodology

From September through to the end of October 1996 a total of 11 one metre square units were excavated manually in a small area 40.0 to 50.0 metres north of the La Vase River's north bank (Figure 1). These units were plotted using the grid established by D. Allen and Archaeological Services Inc. in 1995 (Cooper and Robertson 1996:86). Excavation was performed by volunteers from many areas of North America supervised by the author and four City of North Bay personnel; two of these supervisors and the author worked on CbGu-1 with ASI in 1995.

The site ridge sat almost completely perpendicular to the current La Vase River channel. The eastern ridge boundary fell much more sharply than did the western boundary; which was, in effect, a gradual slope. The eastern ridge border dropped 0.40 m. in total elevation as it sloped eastward in a small space of 5.0 metres: much of this slope was created artificially with the addition of various modem fill layers. A low, wet grassy area existed to the immediate east of the site's eastern border. The gradual westem slope fell only 0.30 m. in over 11.0 metres: over twice the length of the eastem boundary slope.

The location of the first 1.0 metre square excavation unit (515-200) was chosen due to its central location (east-west) on the low ridge. Roughly, the middle of the site was the 200 East grid line. The 515 North grid line position was chosen, because the location was equidistant from the lab trailer to the north and the area Dr. P. Julia wished preserved in the south. The other ten units were plotted using Square 515-200 as the central, unifying unit of the excavation. This method allowed for a good understanding of topographical, soil, and artifactual diversity and continuity over the northern site area for both north-south and east-west axes. The next unit plotted, 520-200, was excavated simultaneously with 515-200. Its location 5.0 metres to the north was chosen in keeping with the excavation goal: to explore the northem paleosol and its contents. A 5.0 metre interval was chosen as an excellent distance to notice changes in the soils while still maintaining a continuity between the excavation units.

The test squares were excavated in 0.05 m. levels by volunteers and supervisors: not stratigraphically. The trowel was used as the sole excavation tool in all units except Square 515-210, which the author excavated with the partial use of a shovel. All levels were closely examined by the crew during excavation; all artifact proveniences were recorded horizontally and vertically. The artifacts were then plotted on top plan forms provided by P. Julig. All excavated soil was placed into a bucket which was then transported to a 0.06 m. screened tripod, which was used to find artifacts missed in the initial trowel excavation. These artifacts were recorded with reference to their specific level (e.g., 0 - 0.05 m., 0.25 - 0.30 m., Appendix B). Soil samples were gathered for flotation in areas with artifactual or environmental anomalies. Wall profiles, top plans, piece-plot plans, and necessary artifact scatter plans were drawn for all units: feature top plans and profiles were also drawn. Final photos were taken for every unit, wall profile, and feature.

Fall 1996 Square Summaries (CbGu-1)

Note: The artifact locations within the square summaries have been grouped according to their order of excavation. This system of presentation allowed for a better description of excavating methodology. Squares 515-200, 515-201, and 515-202, Level 0.20 m. to 0.25 m. combined Top Plan and North Wall Profile are listed as Figure 4 and Figure 5, respectively.

515-200

Square 515-200 was the first unit duo in the fall of 1996; the reasons for this have been previously stated. Two fill layers: a hardpan layer over gravel fill, were excavated. The two fill units varied in combined thickness from 0.15 m. to 0.27 m. The hardpan was deposited by Parks and Recreation to grow grass seed, while the gravel was added to increase the park's elevation (Saini 1996: Personal Correspondence). It was also discovered that the gravel fill had been placed over a thin lens of successive, naturally deposited, waterborne sand sub-layers. The banding within the beach sand layer was the characteristic responsible for the water deposition diagnosis, probably lucastrine. This waterborne sand was located immediately above the paleosol or buried soil layer. Those layers above the paleosol contained: a 1947 Cdn. penny, a single paint chip, 1 metal washer, 2 unidentified metal fragments, 1 wire nail head, 2 bottle caps, and 3 .22 calibre shells. Again, the fill was composed of a series of sand layers and a gravel layer which were added to the site after the prehistoric occupation. Therefore, the date of the modern artifacts in the artifact assemblage listed above and the soil layers above the paleosol correspond.

The paleosol is also mentioned in this report as the cultural layer, because it contains the prehistoric cultural material in situ (in its original deposition layer and position). This layer was dark black in colour due to its high organic content. The cultural layer, which rose to the southwest, varied in thickness from 0.02 m. to 0.15 m., due to tree root activity. It held some gneiss fragments, 1 piece of coal slag, a bottle cap, 2 tin foil fragments, 2 paint chips, 2 glass fragments, and prehistoric ceramic sherds; including decorated body sherds CbGu- 1 96a47, CbGu- 1 96a48, CbGu- 1 96a49, and CbGu- 1 96a5O (Figure 2). These ceramic fragments are remnants of a Late Woodland Huronian-styled ceramic vessel (c. 1400-1650). These particular fragments are pieces from the vessel shoulder and have been incised with a reed or stylus; these decorative marks are commonly called punctates by archaeologists (Figure 2). The modem artifacts, which accompanied the prehistoric materials, may be present within the cultural layer due to root activity, especially in the southwestern comer.

It is interesting to note that some of the cultural materials lay directly atop the yellowish sterile soil layer, located in the bottom of the cultural layer (Figure 4). The sterile layer is usually attributed to the latest post-glacial lake bottom. This would mean that the occupation of the area probably took place shortly after the glacial waters had fully drained from the area.

520-200

Square 520-200 was the most northerly square excavated in the fall of 1996; it also contained the first feature found in the fall of 1996, Feature I.

The fill layers, composed of hardpan, gravel, and water-deposited dark beach sand, ranged in total thickness from 0.25 m. to 0.30 m. and contained a cement fragment, an unidentified metal fragment, cotter pin fragments, a bottle cap, 2 wire nails, a tin foil fragment, an unidentified plastic fragment, and 2 glass fragments. Again, the material remains and the soil layers corresponded in date.

The cultural layer (paleosol) found directly beneath the water-deposited sand, had an approximate average thickness of 0.03 m. and contained: a few mendable prehistoric ceramic sherds, 2 unidentified metal fragments, 5 wire nails, 7 tin foil fragments, 1 paint chip, a cigarette filter, 2 plastic fragments, and 5 glass fragments. Root activity and the feature disturbance are responsible for modern material infiltrating the paleosol.

Feature I, located in the southwestern corner of test-unit 520-200 at a depth of 0.25 m., contained fragments of cement (sub-level iii), possibly the drinking fountain base that was ripped out in the 1980's (Saini 1996: Personal Correspondence); therefore, the feature was quite recent (Figure 6). One of the cement fragments had a smooth trough, undoubtedly for transporting water. Also found in the feature were: unidentified metal fragments (7 in sub-level iii, 2 in sub-level iv, 4 in sub-level v, and 5 in sub-level vii), a metal grommet (in sub-level iv), and a paint chip (in sub-level iii). Waterborne beach sand was added to the gravel fill after its deposition and could be seen in the West Wall stratigraphy (Figure 7). As well, the gravel fill layer was located above Feature I. Therefore, Feature I was earlier chronologically than both the beach sand and gravel fill, meaning that the destruction and deposition of the cement fragments occurred earlier than the time at which the gravel fill was added as park fill.

Due to the disturbance caused by Feature I the unit 520-200 was not ideal for studying, the paleosol and its contents. The square immediately south of 520-200 (519-200) was chosen for excavation.

515-201

This square was opened for excavation after prehistoric sherds were found in the adjoining square immediately west (515-200) in order to ascertain the eastern extent of a sherd scatter c' found in Square 515-200's paleosol. Were the ceramic sherds present in 515-200 due to the northerly slope of the soil or were they deposited where they were found? An attempt to answer this question was made by excavating units 515-201 and 515-202.

The combined fill layers varied in thickness from 0.17 m. to 0.30 m. and contained 2 glass fragments, 9 unidentified metal fragments, a wire nail fragment, and 2 tin foil fragments. The gravel fill within Square 515-201 thinned out toward the northeast as the paleosol rose. Therefore, the northeastern section of the cultural layer was in fact higher topographically than the paleosol in the rest of 515-201 and 515-200. Consequently, the paleosol in many of the units north of Square 515-201 may be higher as well. This is important, because the previous excavations have shown that the higher elevations were well used in prehistoric times.

The cultural layer was quite disturbed and varied in thickness from 0.02 m. to 0. 13 m. as it rose to the northeast. It held both prehistoric and historic material: 1 lithic flake, 1 siltstone preform (Figure 3), undecorated prehistoric ceramic body sherds, carbonized wood, 6 unidentified metal fragments, 7 wire nail fragments, 8 tin foil fragments, and 2 paint chips. The square also contained a 1942 Cdn. penny, a rubber fragment, and 4 very small bone fragments.

515-199

Square 515-199 was opened to trace the westward progress of the prehistoric ceramic sherd scatter found in the adjoining unit 515-200. It was extremely important to isolate the scatter limits in order to understand the nature and deposition of the material. An attempt was also being made to find a diagnostic rim fragment; a fragment that would allow for vessel identification, age, and cultural affiliation. If the vessel could be identified it would be a useful object to date the northern paleosol.

The first soil layer immediately below the sod was the dark brown hardpan with mottled interspersion; charcoal was found throughout this layer. Below the hardpan, the gravel fill, which was deeper in the northern half of the square, contained very little cultural material, old or new. Below the gravel was a light, waterborne, sandy layer; this layer lay directly above the paleosol. The fill layers varied in total thickness from 0.03 m. to 0.30 m. and they contained: a .22 calibre shell casing, bottle cap, tin foil, 2 glass fragments, a fibre-board fragment, a wire nail head, 2 unidentified metal fragments and a fish vertebra fragment.

The heavily mottled cultural layer varied in thickness from 0.14 m., at its largest extent, to a complete absence in the East Wall. This layer was also divided by a sandy lens in the southwestern comer. The paleosol held a bottle cap, and 4 metal fragments, two of which were wire nail heads. Prehistoric pottery, similar to that unearthed in units 515-200 and 515-201 did not appear in Square 515-199. No artifacts were found within the paleosol in a shallow, lower area on the west side of the square, and may be a naturally occurring formation. The presence of the modern refuse may be due, at least in part, to the mottled condition of the layer. The absence of prehistoric ceramic may indicate that the scatter is confined to areas west of unit 515-199. In addition, it may be hypothesized that unit 515-199 was too far to the west to contain any ceramics which would have slid from the elevated area northeast of Square 515-201.

515-197

The square designated 515-197 was the most westerly square excavated at the La Vase North Bank site in the fall of 1996. The stratigraphy in the square was composed of both artificial fill and naturally deposited soil layers. Above the paleosol was a thin lens of light beach sand, probably water-deposited. Above this were two other sandy water-deposited layers of which the lower of these was darker. Some root activity mixed some of the soils producing a mottled effect in some areas of the unit. A gravel layer was located above the aforementioned sandy layers, deposited there by Parks and Recreation workers. Finally above this layer was the hardpan, a dense sandy layer, which was added above the existing gravel by Parks and Recreation workers who were sowing grass seed (Saini 1996: Personal Communication). The fill layers sloped gently downward to the north. There was a collection of charcoal in the northern half of the square. There appeared to be a great deal of soil leeching in this square, especially in the northern half. Much of the disturbance of the soil in the north was attributed to root activity. The sandy fill layer also held evidence of modern activity. Artifacts, such as a styrofoam fragment, 2 unidentified metal fragments, 6 tin foil fragments, a peach pit, and a blue glass bead (probably modern) were found in this layer. The mottled layer immediately above the cultural layer contained a fish scale and 8 bone fragments, 3 glass fragments, 4 green paint chips, 7 tin foil fragments, coal slag fragments reminiscent of those found by ASI in 1995 (Cooper and Robertson 1996: Appendix D), 4 cotter pin fragments, 8 bottle caps, and a 1942 Cdn. penny.

The cultural layer (paleosol) varied in thickness from 0.03 m. to 0.12 m. as it rose southward above the sterile layer. It yielded a fin foil fragment, 2 wire nails, and 2 unidentified metal fragments, probably brought down to the cultural layer through a dense root system which ran through the north, east, and western walls of the unit. Carbonized wood was found throughout all levels.

The square was excavated through the sterile soil to a depth of 1.43 m., where the water table was reached: no other culturally deposited layers were found. The cultural layer elevation in Square 515-197 was lower than the cultural layer preserved in squares to the east. Square 515-197, located only 2.0 m. west of Square 515-199, did not contain prehistoric ceramic or any other prehistoric material. Therefore, the prehistoric component in the northern half of the site may be concentrated around the naturally elevated paleosol to the northeast of Square 515-201: more excavation is needed to test this theory.

517-200

Square 517-200 was opened to bridge the 5.0 m. gap between Square 520-200 and 515-200; to understand if the lack of prehistoric materials in Square 520-200 was due to the disturbance caused by Feature I and to see the stratigraphic relationship between the two units. A gravel fill layer was once again found under the hardpan. The hardpan was placed directly atop a thin waterborne sandy layer. The waterborne layer was located directly over the paleosol. In one instance, however, the gravel fill cut into the cultural layer next to the North Wall in the northeast corner. As well, the paleosol slope dipped as it proceeded northward in this comer. The fill layers had an average total thickness of 0.20 m. and contained: 4 glass fragments, a metal beverage pull-tab, 2 wire nail fragments, a metal washer, and a 1920 Cdn. penny.

The cultural layer (paleosol) had an approximate average thickness of 0.02 m. and held 2 unidentified metal fragments, a single wire nail fragment, 3 tin foil fragments, 9 paint chips, 13 pieces of quartz debitage, and a single historic ceramic fragment. A nut and bolt were also found in this square.

The cultural layer was one of the highest and thinnest of any unit excavated. The prehistoric and historic materials mixed within it, partially due to the gravel fill cut in the northeastern corner. The prehistoric lithic material may have been present due to its high elevation, relative to the other excavated units.

515-202

Unit 515-202 was opened to further investigate the eastern extent of the ceramic finds, and to better understand the paleosol slope. The fill layers above the paleosol were 0.20 m. to 0.22 m. in total thickness: the hardpan layer had again been placed directly over the gravel fill. The gravel fill, along with the beach sand beneath it, contained much modern refuse. For example, they contained a single unidentified metal fragment, 2 cigarette filters, and 2 tin foil fragments.

The flat cultural layer ranged in thickness from 0.01 m. to 0.07 m. This chance in thickness, and presence of modern material, was largely due to root activity within the paleosol and beach sand layers. The paleosol contained: prehistoric ceramic sherds, 3 fragments of unidentified metal, a single wire nail, 2 pieces of quartz debitage, a glass bottle rim fragment, 2 pieces of tin foil, and 2 paint chips. Much of the prehistoric ceramic was found in the eastern half of the paleosol. The material probably continues into the surrounding unexcavated units.

There was much root activity from the northeast to southwest corners under the cultural layer, which introduced cultural soil into the sterile soil layer: this did not affect the artifacts within the cultural layer.

511-200

Square 511-200 was the most southerly unit excavated in the fall of 1996. It was excavated on the southern fringe of the north excavation area in order to test the site at an area between the northern excavated units and those dug previously by ASI in 1995 (Figure 1).

The square's soil layers were relatively flat compared with the other units dug in the fall of 1996; a few slight undulations were the only features that prevented complete flatness. The fill in the square, composed of hardpan and gravel added to the waterborne beach sand had a total thickness of 0.28 m. in the northeast comer and 0.22 m. in the northwest corner. Artifacts from these layers ranged from iron fragments, a bottle cap, a bolt, wire nail fragments, a plastic button, a cigarette filter, to 20 thin and clear unidentified glass fragments, unburned seeds, and tin foil fragments.

The paleosol, a dark organic sand also referred in this report as the cultural layer, ranged in thickness from 0.02 m. to 0.08 m. as it rose slightly to the northeast. It contained large quantities of carbonized wood and small, undefined bone fragments, which were found in the top-most section of the paleosol, possibly dating to the Late Woodland period.

519-200

Unit 519-200 was excavated to understand the context of the prehistoric ceramic from the extreme southern edge of Square 520-200. The conclusion reached upon completion of the excavation was that the 520-200 was an isolated find: there was no prehistoric ceramic in 519-200. Therefore, the 520-200 ceramic may be an outlier from a nearby scatter. It should be noted that the ceramic from unit 520-200 was found in situ.

The fill layers, which consisted of hardpan and gravel, ranged in total thickness from 0.22 m. to 0.28 m. These fill layers held a single unidentified metal fragment, a Robertson screw, a tin foil fragment, and 2 glass fragments.

The cultural layer had a maximum thickness of 0.05 m. and was cut by features II and III, and contained: a single unidentified metal fragment, 5 wire nail fragments, a plastic eyelet, 3 paint chips, an unidentified plastic fragment, 2 glass fragments, and 3 lithic flakes (Figure 8).

Feature II, located in the southwestern corner of the square, first appeared at a surface depth of 0.30 m. and had a modern context. This assertion was made due to the fact that the feature cut the paleosol (Figure 10 and Figure 11) and the presence of: 3 unidentified metal fragments: 2 in sub-level iv and I in sub-level viii, and cement fragments, possibly from the old park drinking fountain, within the feature itself.

Feature III, found in the southeastern corner at a surface depth of 0.25 m., did not extend as far south as the South Wall: it also had a modern context. The feature date was provided, not only by the stratigraphy (Figure 9), but also the feature contents: 2 unidentified metal fragments, a wire nail (ii), a metal nut (i), 8 tin foil fragments (iii), a paint chip (ii), and 19 glass bottle fragments from McDonald's Beverages of North Bay.

Though the feature cuts destroyed parts of the paleosol the damage was confined to the features themselves. The preserved paleosol contained no prehistoric ceramic.

515-206

Square 515-206 was excavated in order to explore the stratigraphy in the eastern slope further east of the previously excavated units on the 515 North grid line. As well, the eastern extent of the prehistoric site had not yet been well defined.

The fill layers, ranged in total thickness from 0.28 m. in the northwest corner to 0.47 m. in the southwest corner. The degree of modern alteration to the ancient topography is plainly evident in the above measurements; a difference of 0. 19 m. from two corners only a metre apart.

As usual, the hardpan under the sod was above a gravel fill layer. However, the gravel fill was placed atop a dark brown sandy fill, instead of the more common light sandy soil. The usual layer of waterborne sand was found below the dark sandy fill layer. This dark sandy fill was responsible for much of the topographical change in the eastern slope of the northern portion of the site. The modern surface level of the park had risen dramatically in the east as a result of its deposition.

The common light sandy beach sand was located directly above another dark brown sandy layer. This layer was much darker than the dark sandy fill. This waterborne dark layer lay immediately above the paleosol. The soil layers above the paleosol contained: a fragment of fishing line, 5 cotter pin fragments, 6 wire nails, 6 bottle caps, a single .22 calibre spent shell casing, 22 tin foil fragments from an Eskimo Pie wrapper, 4 paint chips, 5 cigarette filters, 3 unidentified plastic fragments, and a single glass fragment.

The cultural layer varied in thickness from non-existent, in the South Wall, to 0.15 m. in the same wall: root activity, again, disturbed much of the paleosol. Within it was found a single unidentified metal fragment, 8 wire nails, 6 bottle caps, 6 tin foil fragments, a plastic button, and 2 paint chips. The cultural remains in the paleosol were similar to those found in the above fill layers.

The paleosol's elevation was quite low in comparison to the same layer in more easterly units. It also continued to drop in elevation as it traveled eastward into unit 515-210; perhaps too low for occupation. This may account for the absence of prehistoric remains within this unit or in Square 515-210.

Feature IV, situated in the southwestem corner of unit 515-206, at a surface depth of 0.35 m., contained iron fragments which, after examination, proved to be pieces of a wire nail. The modern context of the feature, identified through the material contents, fits well with the heavy soil disturbance above the feature and its overall stratigraphical sequence.

515-210

Square 515-210 was the most easterly unit excavated in the fall of 1996. It was excavated simultaneously with unit 515-206 in an effort to define the eastern site boundary and define the site stratigraphy. Unit 515-206 served as an information link between unit 515-210 and 515-202. It provided much information regarding changes to the stratigraphy. This was quite important, because unit 515-210 was dug in order to see the stratigraphic changes as the ground sloped sharply downward to the east, and if these layers contained any prehistoric or early historic cultural materials.

The soil layers above the paleosol ranged in total thickness from 0.30 m. to 0.44 m.. The thick, brown sandy fill layer mentioned in the summary of Square 515-206 was also found in Square 515-210 (Figure 12). It, in essence, was the cause of the modern slope seen along the eastern extent of the excavation area. This artificial fill layer originated in the west as far as Square 515-206 on the 515 line. However, the dark fill sat directly over the paleosol in this unit: not on another sandy layer. The hardpan layer was quite thin; it had an average thickness of 0.02 m. and thinned as it progressed eastward. The gravel fill layer was completely absent. The fill layers above the paleosol contained: a fragment of electrical wire, a wire nail, 8 bottle caps, 4 tin foil fragments, 2 paint chips, 10 cigarette filters, and a single glass fragment.

The cultural layer had an average thickness of 0.07 m. and contained no artifactual material. The paleosol was also a mecca for root activity.

Prehistoric Artifacts

Of all the prehistoric materials found the most prevalent were the ceramics. Of the eleven units excavated only four contained prehistoric ceramics: 515-200, 515-201, 515-202 and 520-200. These four, however, had a total of 694 sherds in their cultural layers. Of course, these ceramic fragments were poorly preserved; 136 full body sherds, 200 exterior exfoliated sherds, 129 interior exfoliated sherds, and 229 microsherds (Appendix A). The exfoliated sherds had separated while in the earth: meaning that the interior and exterior walls of the vessel fragments separated from one another. There were no rim sherds found. However, of the 136 full body sherds, 4 shoulder fragments bore indented decorated impressions made with a reed, stick or stylus that formed a single band of punctates: the rest were plain and smooth. The decoration, globular shape, poor preservation, high number of mendable sherds, and style of manufacture (paddle and anvil) suggests that the sherds were once part of a single Huronion-styled vessel dating to the Late Woodland period (A.D. 1400-1650). This does not necessarily mean that the vessel was manufactured in Huronia or even by a Huronian; the Nipissing peoples, and Huron who married Nipissing, may have been making their own vessels in the Huron style in the area around Lake Nipissing.

There were 18 lithic or stone fragments found this fall: 13 quartz debitage, 4 unmodified flakes of an unknown stone, and 1 siltstone preform (Figure 3). It is important to note that 9 of the 11 quartz debitage, and both spent quartz cores, were found in Square 517-200. This may indicate that the immediate area was used to fashion a few quartz tools or as a spot selected for deposition of its byproducts.

The prehistoric materials found give evidence for ancient activity as far north as 40.0 m. from the La Vase River's north bank (Figure 1). These materials were deposited during or shortly after the occupation of the site.

Historic Artifacts

The soil layers within Champlain Park were, not surprisingly, littered with refuse from decades of recent park activity. Refuse entered the paleosol through faunal turbation, root activity, and human disturbance. These layers contained evidence for a recent structure, and remnants of various park activities, such as: fishing, hunting, and picnicking. The historic artifact frequencies by material are shown below:

La Vase North Bank Historic Artifact Frequencies by Material Class: Fall 1996

Historic Ceramic

The historic ceramic microsherd was small and fragmentary, prohibiting any analysis other than its identity.

Glass

Many of the glass fragments are too diminutive to discover their identity. In Feature III, however, there were 19 fragments on which some contained the writing Donal . . . Contents . . . 12. These shards were once part of a soda bottle made by MacDonald's Beverages in North Bay.

Metal

As was the case with ASI in 1995, the metal artifacts made up almost half the number of total artifacts found during the excavation season (Cooper and Robertson 1996:103). The identifiable metal nails (n=52) were all wire type: post 1900 (Adams 1995:94). Thirty-six metal crimped-edge beverage bottle caps were found; these were all post 1892 (Cooper and Robertson 1996:103). In addition, a Robertson screw, a beverage pull-tab, a footwear grommet, 5 .22 calibre spent shell casings, 4 Canadian pennies (1920-1947), 2 washers, 3 nuts and bolts, and 10 cotter pin fragments were found. Sixty-nine metal fragments were poorly preserved or too fragmentary to distinguish their original identity or function.

Plastic

Eight unidentifiable plastic fragments were found; all but two were yellow, these were clear. As well, two plastic buttons, and an eyelet were found.

Ecofacts

Seeds were collected from units: 511-200, 515-197, 519-200, 515-206, and especially 515-200, 515-201, and 515-202. Analysis of these ecofacts revealed that all seeds were of modern date. Those seeds which infiltrated the paleosol probably did so via tree root activity.

Four soil samples were kept for flotation. These samples were processed through a graduated cylinder with a minimum mesh size of 710 micrometres. Three of these samples, from the cultural layer of Square 515-200, had no preserved organic remains other than carbonized wood. The fourth sample was taken from Feature II. This sample did not contain any seed remains.

Overview

The historic artifacts found in the fall of 1996 dated to the twentieth century. Much of this refuse came from the fill layers and naturally deposited sandy layers above the paleosol which correspond to this time period. Modern material was also fond within the paleosol; reasons for this have been given above.

Concluding Summary

As mentioned in the introduction, the project initiatives were twofold: the education of public persons in archaeological techniques and the archaeological assessment of the north area of the site ridge.

Stratigraphically, most units excavated in the fall contained a hardpan layer over a light sandy fill. A gravel fill layer, located under the light sandy fill, was placed over a darker sandy layer which rested on the paleosol (cultural layer). The dark, organic soil of the paleosol had formed on a yellowish sterile layer which may be associated with the post glacial lake bed. In squares 515-206 and 515-210 the addition of a second sandy fill layer was discovered. The fill layers were placed in Champlain Park, North Bay in order to alter the ground level: the hardpan was used specifically to grow grass seed.

Artifactually, the prehistoric ceramic and lithic materials found within the northern paleosol were preserved as much as 40.0 metres north of the La Vase River. Further, as many as 6 of 11 excavated units contained prehistoric material. The ceramics helped to date the prehistoric materials preserved in the paleosol to approximately A.D. 1400-1650. This data lends support to the estimated 500 square metre site area described by Robertson (Cooper and Robertson 1996:85).

In comparison, the northern and southern site areas were dissimilar due in part to the lower density of some types of prehistoric material (e.g,. faunal remains), and absence of Euro-Canadian material in the north. However, the northern section contained more prehistoric ceramic. This dissimilarity may be due to the high topographical advantage of the ridge for habitation (Cooper and Robertson 1996:104). The northern section may have been an occupied area or one which was on the fringe of habitation: more excavation is needed. The amount of modern refuse was expected to be comparable, because both areas were open for recreational use during the modern fill phases: both areas had a variety of modern archaeological features.

In summary, the data recovered by the La Vase Archaeological Dig in the fall of 1996 corresponded with the ASI assessment of a prehistoric camp occupied during the Late Woodland period (Cooper and Robertson 1996:105). However, there was no evidence of the nineteenth century component which was encountered by ASI and Dr. P. Julig. The difference may be due to the proximity of the excavation areas to the La Vase River. The areas closer to the river may have been preferred by the early explorers, because of the easier water access.

Recommendations for follow-up work include the further excavation of the units surrounding units 515-201 and 515-202, because the ceramic vessel fragments which remain unexcavated at this location may be as badly preserved as the ones excavated this past fall. If so, an attempt should be made to excavate and conserve them. As well, the area between the northern and southern excavated site portions should be tested with excavation units. This task may be undertaken by Dr. Julig in 1998.

List of Figures

Bibliography

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