 |
|
View north over west
side of esker, along deviation of winter road
|
In August 2002, archaeological investigations were carried
out in three areas in connection with De Beers’s mineral
exploration at Gahcho Kué (Kennady Lake) and use of
a winter access route between MacKay Lake and Gahcho Kué,
District of Mackenzie, Northwest Territories. The main focus
of work was to assess the effects of winter 2002 deviations
of the 120 km-long MacKay Lake-Gahcho Kué winter access
route. The work in the vicinity of Gahcho Kué was primarily
associated with a winter access route constructed in 2002
from Gahcho Kué to MZ Lake, and a proposed airstrip
to be constructed southeast of the De Beers Gahcho Kué
camp.
The work was completed under Northwest Territories Archaeologists
permit 2002-923, and Eleanor Stoddart was assisted by Tobie
Marlowe of Lutsel K’e. The MacKay Lake-Gahcho Kué
winter access route runs from MacKay Lake to Gahcho Kué,
via Reid, Munn, Margaret and Murdock lakes. Part of the route
was inspected by helicopter flyover, with the intention of
inspecting deviations in the route made during the winter
of 2002. One deviation was noted approximately 8 km north
of the Gahcho Kué camp, and was thoroughly surveyed
by pedestrian traverse. No new archaeological sites were noted,
and no previously recorded sites were found to have been disturbed
by 2002 winter traffic.
 |
| View northeast along
Gahcho Kue-MZ Lake access route |
The Gahcho Kué-MZ Lake route was also over flown and
the westernmost section near MZ Lake was inspected by pedestrian
traverse, as it was located on higher ground than the surrounding
area. No sites were found along the access route. Five sites
recorded within 50 m of the lakeshore during a 2001 survey
were assessed for potential conflicts with the access route;
none of these sites will be affected. The location of a proposed
airstrip southeast of the DCBE Gahcho Kué mineral exploration
camp was also inspected by pedestrian traverse, and no new
sites were recorded. The nearest known site is approximately
650 m from to proposed airstrip. It will not be affected by
its construction but may be at risk from construction of an
access road connecting the airstrip and camp.
There are currently 264 previously recorded archaeological
sites within 20 km of the DBCE Gahcho Kué camp near
the south end of Gahcho Kué, and on and adjacent to
the winter access routes. The number and density of sites
found over the past four years indicates that surveys of winter
access routes are a necessary form of impact assessment and
heritage resource management, and a productive source of knowledge.
De Beers is committed to heritage conservation, and will,
wherever possible, modify access route alignments, camp locations
and exploration plans to avoid disturbance of evidence of
prehistoric and historic aboriginal occupation. It is recommended
that a more extensive survey be conducted in selected locations
to better understand precontact and historic site location
preferences, to be better able to predict site locations,
and to identify additional sites that may be affected by a
change in various exploration and development projects.
|
