Photographing a brush tipi at Winter Lake.

In June 2005, on behalf of Tyhee NWT Corp., Points West Heritage Consulting Ltd. conducted archaeological assessments for the proposed Yellowknife Gold Project.  This project is located approximately 85 km north of Yellowknife near the historic Discovery Mine that was abandoned in 1969.  The proposed Yellowknife Gold Project is located in the vicinity of Winter Lake, about 3 km southwest of the Discovery Mine, with a possible future development at Nicholas Lake, approximately 12 km to the northeast.

Archaeological assessments were conducted of specific proposed development components identified on plans received in June, 2005.  These consisted of:

• A proposed tailings containment area and associated facilities at Winter Lake;
• Potential all weather road route to Nicholas Lake;
• Existing winter road route to Yellowknife;
• Alternative locations for processing plant and camp;
• Preliminary assessment of a possible esker airstrip.

The specific mine area at Winter Lake was examined in 2004.  Assessments were completed by a combination of low and slow helicopter overflights and surveys on foot of selected portions of each development area judged to have some potential for archaeological resources.  Shovel testing was conducted wherever the terrain suggested some possibility for past human use, for example, elevated, dry, level ground where people would like to camp.

Subsurface testing near Winter Lake.

Heritage resources found in 2005 were associated with hunting camps dating considerably less than 50 years of age.  Three such camps were found on Winter Lake (in addition to the exploration camp recorded last year):  two on the east shore of the lake and one on the island in Winter Lake.  One additional camp was observed on Prosperous Lake.  These sites displayed various ways that available resources were used for construction of shelters and other needs.  Miscellaneous structural remains and debris related to exploration, mining and gravel extraction were also encountered.  Because these remains are all comparatively recent, no further work is recommended. 

No archaeological remains were found.  It should be emphasized that these conclusions refer only to archaeological resources, that is, remains older than 50 years.  The potential for archaeological sites in the specific areas to be affected by the mine and camp facilities is rated as low.  Much of the area covered by the development of the Yellowknife Gold Project is characterized by low, waterlogged ground or rocky, irregular terrain, generally considered unappealing for human use.  The major terrain features with archaeological potential in this vicinity are eskers but these are of limited extent within the presently proposed development zones.  If final plans include use of eskers for borrow or other purposes, additional field assessment will be necessary.  Within the remainder of the currently proposed development area, it is considered unlikely to encounter archaeological resources.