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TitleChipewyan drift fences and shooting-blinds in the central barren grounds
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication1968
AuthorsMorrison, D. R.
Publication Languageen
Keywordscaribou hunting, Chipewyan prehistory, Stone game-drive features
Abstract

This source is an archaeological survey of various stone game-drive features (e.g., shooting-blinds, drift fences, etc.) found along the Elk and upper Thelon Rivers in the eastern district of Mackenzie. Morrison relates these stone structures to similar features employed in caribou hunting by the historic Chipewyan population of the area and their forbearers of the Taltheilei tradition. He suggests further that the large drift-fence sites investigated "probably [were] used by briefly assembled midsummer macro-bands, while smaller sites could be used later in the season when both the caribou herds and the hunting bands had dispersed". Archaeological surveys conducted by the author along the Elk and upper Thelon Rivers, eastern District of Mackenzie, resulted in location of game-drive features made of piled stone. These fence structures can be related to the operation of caribou drives by historic Chipewyan and their prehistoric ancestors of the Taltheilei tradition. The structures are described in detail and the strategies involved in their use are reconstructed. Crescentic walled shooting-blinds were placed strategically to allow hunters to intercept herds of caribou channelled into narrow conduits by the stone fences and related topographic features. Major use of these drive sites seems to have been from late July through August, during the southward migration. Large drift-fence sites were probably used by briefly assembled midsummer macro-bands, while smaller sites could be used later in the season when both the caribou herds and the hunting bands had dispersed.

Notes

Academic journal article

Locational Keywords

Eastern district of Mackenzie, Elk and Upper Thelon Rivers

Group

CEMA

Citation Key24532

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