Paleoeskimo site taphonomy: An assessment of the integrity of the Tayara site, Qikirtaq Island, Nunavik, Canada

Abstract

AbstractA detailed taphonomic study was undertaken at the Tayara site in order to determine the impact of natural processes such as surface water flow on spatial patterning and site formation. The study focused on Paleoeskimo level II, which contains many lithics and significant faunal remains. Level II integrity was assessed through spatial analysis and by examining the size distribution of lithic artifacts and bone orientation. Experimental knapping aimed at replicating Paleoeskimo lithic technology was used to assess the possible size sorting of lithics. The study indicates that artifact burial by water‐laid sediments did not result in a selective impoverishment in small‐sized lithics. Statistically significant lithic concentrations and associations suggest that spatial distribution was not significantly modified by site formation processes. However, slight post‐depositional changes were presumably induced by water flows in the form of statistically significant horizontal bone reorientations. These occurred when gently flowing water inundated bone accumulations without inducing significant washing or sorting of smaller lithic debris. The spatial integrity evaluation of the level II assemblage reveals a low degree of spatial disturbance and disorganization of the material (i.e., limited entropy), which is likely related to low‐energy hydraulic forces and rapid burial soon after Paleoeskimo occupation. The grouping and deposition of much of the occupation debris is likely the result of Paleoeskimo activities (e.g., knapping and butchering), and the lithics and fauna specimens are probably at or very near their original location. These results show the behavioral significance of the grouping and deposition of debris in Tayara's level II. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.