Ancient workshop overlooking Summit Creek.

In September of 2005, Bison Historical Services Ltd. carried out an archaeological survey for heritage sites in the vicinity of Summit Creek, about 60 kilometres south of Tulita, NWT.  These investigations were carried out at the request of Northern EnviroSearch Ltd. on behalf of Husky Energy.  Fieldwork was based out of Tulita and carried out by helicopter over-flight and on foot.  Investigations were carried out by Don Hanna of Bison Historical Services Ltd. and accompanied by Peter Horassi of Tulita, who acted as guide, advisor and wildlife monitor.  Our investigations were aimed at ensuring that previously unrecorded heritage sites will not be disturbed by future developments in the area.

Stone tool.

We examined three possible wellsite locations and portions of their connecting access routes.  Only one heritage site was identified during this phase of operations.  This is a relatively recent traditional land-use camp that will not be directly disturbed by development activities.

Another objective of our study was to carry out baseline investigations in the area of the proposed Summit Creek 3-D seismic survey.  We were hampered in these investigations by bad weather in the high country but were still able to identify four prehistoric campsite or workshop locales in upland settings in the general study area.  These sites all contain evidence for the ancient manufacture and use of tools made from a distinctive stone called Tertiary Hills welded tuff. 

A final objective of our study was to identify elements of the old “Mountain Dene Trail to the Mountains”, portions of which are reported as passing through the project area.  We were partially successful in this and were able to identify some portions of a trail system in the low-lying country along Summit Creek, as well as a large, early historic period traditional land-use campsite near the confluence of Summit Creek and the Keele River.  Other indications of the trail may be found in the presence of two prehistoric workshops in the high altitude pass that crosses the Flint Stone Range southeast of Ground Squirrel Mountain.

Alpine pass on the Mountain Dene Trail to the Mountains.

These results indicate that there is considerable potential for more unrecorded heritage sites in this area, and that future developments must be carefully monitored to ensure these sites are not disturbed.