Editor’s note: The Archaeological Survey of Alberta is proud to release the complete volume of Occasional Paper Series No. 42, available for free download. The volume is dedicated to Alberta archaeologist Jack Brink and the initial blog featured the first five articles. This post features the remaining seven articles, which focus on a variety of archaeological topics.
Written by: Todd Kristensen, Archaeological Survey of Alberta
In the sixth paper of the volume, staff of Lifeways of Canada Limited summarize three seasons of excavation at an important archaeological site in southern Alberta. The Junction Site has produced a number of interesting pit features associated with Late Precontact Period bison kills, processing areas and winter camp activities.
In the seventh paper, Jack Ives presents some of the interesting results of archaeological field schools at a site west of Edmonton. Detailed analyses of artifact distribution have helped understand activity areas dating back to the Early Precontact Period at the Ahai Mneh Site.
Martin Magne summarizes microblade technology in western Canada in the eighth article in the volume. He discusses some geographic and temporal trends in this method of producing specific stone tools across Yukon, NWT, B.C. and Alberta.
A team of CRM consultants and staff from the Archaeological Survey of Alberta report on a new rock art site along the North Milk River in the volume’s ninth article. The red ochre handprints and other elements are associated with the Foothills Abstract Tradition.
The tenth article in the volume shares the long but successful nomination process that earned Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Michael Klassen shares the challenges, successes and sometimes conflicting perspectives of landscape value that influenced site designation.
A personal ode to Jack Brink is offered in the eleventh article by colleague Peter Ramsden. The article is a reminder of the legacy of friendships Jack created over his career.
The twelfth and final article in the volume is a bibliography of Jack Brink’s publications. It is hoped that the bibliography both honours Jack’s contribution to Alberta archaeology and serves as a useful resource to researchers across North America.
Readers are also encouraged to the peruse the Foreward (pages i-ii), Dedication (pages iii-iv), Jack Brink photograph gallery (pages v-xvi) and Introduction (pages xvii-xviii) to the volume. All of these contributions celebrate the life and achievements of an Alberta archaeologist who excelled at sharing the archaeological record of the province with Albertans and audiences around the world.
Thank you to all the authors and special thanks to editors Martin Magne and Eric Damkjar whose dedication made this volume possible.
Previous volumes can be downloaded for free here. If you are an archaeologist interested in contributing to the 2024 issue, dedicated to heritage in the Eastern Slopes and Rocky Mountains of Canada, please contact the Archaeological Survey of Alberta or guest editor Timothy Allan.
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