Borden NumberMjVg-1Site TypehabitationDescriptionLocated on the eastern side of confluence of Rat Indian Creek and Porcupine River northern Yukon Territory. The site is located on an alluvial terrace on the north bank of the Porpucine River. From the river, the site is visible as a small grassy clearing approximately 150m upstream from the mouth of the Rat Indian Creek. It it bordered to the west by an ancient channel of the Creek and a dense stand of willows. To the east, it is bordered by a relatively open stand of birch and white spruce. To the north, it is bordered by wet tundra and black spruce.
This multi-component site contains one historic level and six prehistoric levels, numbered 2, 3, 5, 6, 6A, and 6B. Only Levels 5 and 6/6A produced samples large enough for detailed analysis. Two archaeological phases are proposed: the Old Chief phase, ca. 900 BC - AD 700; and the Klo-kut phase, ca. AD 700 - 1850. Rat Indian Level 6/6A is assigned to the Old Chief phase and Level 5 to the Klo-kut phase. Most of the 18 radiocarbon dates on this site are internally consistent and complement the stratigraphic sequence. However, S-1830, from Level 2, is out of sequence and might have been contaminated through the use of ancient driftwood or by the disturbance of its hearth context by a 1968 test pit. Three dates on Level 3 appear earlier than four dates on the upper part of Level 5, but all of them are shown to be essentially contemporaneous, reflecting the close stratigraphic relationship and small temporal separation between these levels.
Artifacts include: cores, debitage (both modified and unmodified), scrapers, pieces esquilles, unifacial flake points, bifaces, bone and antler tools, native copper artifacts, bark and wood tools (including toys), and Euro-Canadian artifacts.
Site Name
Rat Indian Creek
Borden Number
MjVg-1
Site Type
habitation
Description
Located on the eastern side of confluence of Rat Indian Creek and Porcupine River northern Yukon Territory. The site is located on an alluvial terrace on the north bank of the Porpucine River. From the river, the…
Located on the eastern side of confluence of Rat Indian Creek and Porcupine River northern Yukon Territory. The site is located on an alluvial terrace on the north bank of the Porpucine River. From the river, the site is visible as a small grassy clearing approximately 150m upstream from the mouth of the Rat Indian Creek. It it bordered to the west by an ancient channel of the Creek and a dense stand of willows. To the east, it is bordered by a relatively open stand of birch and white spruce. To the north, it is bordered by wet tundra and black spruce.
This multi-component site contains one historic level and six prehistoric levels, numbered 2, 3, 5, 6, 6A, and 6B. Only Levels 5 and 6/6A produced samples large enough for detailed analysis. Two archaeological phases are proposed: the Old Chief phase, ca. 900 BC - AD 700; and the Klo-kut phase, ca. AD 700 - 1850. Rat Indian Level 6/6A is assigned to the Old Chief phase and Level 5 to the Klo-kut phase. Most of the 18 radiocarbon dates on this site are internally consistent and complement the stratigraphic sequence. However, S-1830, from Level 2, is out of sequence and might have been contaminated through the use of ancient driftwood or by the disturbance of its hearth context by a 1968 test pit. Three dates on Level 3 appear earlier than four dates on the upper part of Level 5, but all of them are shown to be essentially contemporaneous, reflecting the close stratigraphic relationship and small temporal separation between these levels.
Artifacts include: cores, debitage (both modified and unmodified), scrapers, pieces esquilles, unifacial flake points, bifaces, bone and antler tools, native copper artifacts, bark and wood tools (including toys), and Euro-Canadian artifacts.
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Citation
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Page Citation for Rat Indian Creek
Page Citation
"Site Details - Rat Indian Creek, Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/7-204/17-2571. Accessed 09 May. 2025.
Publications
AuthorLe Blanc, Raymond J.
TitleThe Rat Indian Creek Site and the Late Prehistorica Period in the Interior Northern Yukon
Publication Date1984
Series TitleNational Museum of Man, Mercury Series