Fine screen faunal analysis from the Hartley Site (FaNp-19)

Abstract

"It's not your blue blood, your pedigree or your college degree. It's what you do with your life that counts. "-Millard Fuller (1935--), co-founder of Habitat for Humanity.

The Hartley site (FaNp-19) is a Late Prehistoric multicomponent habitation site located just south of the city of Saskatoon proper, but within the city-limits. The site is located in a series of stabilized sand dunes with slightly rolling terrain. The Hartley site is part of the original larger Preston Avenue site first recognized by Ken Cronk.

There were a number of questions that were to be answered in this study, in regard to the fine screen assemblage. 1) How would using just the available material affect the analysis?, 2) How would the different methodologies affect the results? Taking those variables into account, what information could be acquired regarding subsistence strategy, seasonality and the paleoecology at the site?

There were two amphibians, one reptile, six varieties of gastropods and a number of small and micro-mammals that were identified. It is interesting to note: that there was also a mini projectile point recovered in the fine screen material made of Swan River chert.

Previous conclusions from Grant Clarke's (1995) thesis regarding what species were consumed were confirmed. The recovery of specimens from animals that hibernate in the winter have provided additional information regarding the seasonality at the site, suggesting that the season of occupation may extend into the spring. The gastropods, small mammals, reptile and amphibians provided a good framework on which to base the sympatry analysis. These species, many from similar environments and others that are more adaptable, afforded a comprehensive look at the past environment.