2011-011 Grant Clarke

Grant Clarke (NWT Archaeologist’s Permit 2011-011)

On behalf of Aurora Geosciences Ltd. and TNR Gold Corporation, Golder Associates Ltd. conducted a Heritage Resources Impact Assessment at Moose property, located on the north shore of Great Slave Lake. The investigations were completed in advance of mineral exploration and were conducted to identify, record, and evaluate previously unrecorded archaeological sites and to provide recommendations to mitigate potential impacts if sites were identified within the proposed study area. These investigations focused on the proposed drilling locations which would be centred in the CB 1 and CB 2 areas of the property.

The investigations were carried out over two days. The first day of field work was completed in August 2011 with a crew consisting of Grant Clarke of Golder Associates Ltd. (Yellowknife) and Pete Enzoe of Lutselk’e. Procedures employed for this portion of the project are considered standard for projects of this nature in the region and entailed pre-field studies, on-ground reconnaissance, reporting and recommendation formulation. The second day of field investigations took place in September and provided an opportunity for a site visit with Elders and youth representing Lutselk’e First Nation, the Yellowknives Dené First Nation, the Deninu Kue First Nation and the Fort Resolution Métis Council. The site visit was completed to allow the representatives the opportunity to visit the site area and provide advice regarding the nature and significance of the sites in the area and to comment on the potential of the study area for archaeological resources.

No previously recorded sites were identified within the study area during the prefield site file search. Field investigations focused on areas exhibiting moderate to high potential for archaeological materials that may be impacted by the proposed development. Field methods employed during this assessment consisted of pedestrian transects with the intent to identify and assess any archaeological sites that may be present. This included the excavation of limited shovel tests to investigate for buried archaeological materials. Much of the area investigated, however, was bedrock with little to no sediment.

The project did not identify any precontact archaeological sites and it was generally believed that the area was situated in an area of Great Slave Lake where the archaeological potential was moderate at best.

The abandoned workings and some machinery are still evident of the abandoned De Staffany mine and previous camp area. An area that is currently used as a camp by local people using the lake and exploration crews was also noted. A total of 11 shovel tests were excavated in these areas. No archaeological materials were recorded.

(Edited by Shelley Crouch, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre)