- Victoria, BC
Alexander P Mackie
Independent Researcher, Burnt Embers Consulting, Department Member
Research Interests: Archaeology, Geochemistry, Stable Isotope Analysis, Archaeological Science, Paleodiet, and 8 moreMultidisciplinary, Collaborative Archaeology, Pacific Northwest Coast archaeology, Gas Chromatography, Northwest Coast Archaeology, Multidisciplinary Research, Carbon Isotope, and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
This paper describes the artifacts recovered in in 1981 from undisturbed deposits at the St Mungo Cannery Site (DgRr2) in North Delta, B.C. This large shell midden is located in the Fraser Delta and includes an important Charles Phase... more
This paper describes the artifacts recovered in in 1981 from undisturbed deposits at the St Mungo Cannery Site (DgRr2) in North Delta, B.C. This large shell midden is located in the Fraser Delta and includes an important Charles Phase component that has been excavated several times.
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Glaciers and icefields in Northern North America have been exhibiting progressive retreat over the past several decades. One by-product of this phenomenon is the exposing of evidence for past human use of high altitude areas hidden by... more
Glaciers and icefields in Northern North America have been exhibiting progressive retreat over the past several decades. One by-product of this phenomenon is the exposing of evidence for past human use of high altitude areas hidden by ice cover until recent years. The discovery in August, 1999, of well preserved remains of a young man, who perished over 550 years ago on an icefield in Northwestern British Columbia, is presented in this paper, along with initial descriptions and discussions of dating, the artifacts, human biology, and the procedures for stabilization and preservation. The paper also provides an outline of the variety of integrated research studies now underway relating to the goal of understanding who this person was, and the events immediately preceding and following his death.
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A dendroarchaeological survey of a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth plank house at Kiix?in, the former capital of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, on the west coast of Vancouver Island British Columbia, was undertaken in the summer of... more
A dendroarchaeological survey of a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth plank house at Kiix?in, the former capital of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, on the west coast of Vancouver Island British Columbia, was undertaken in the summer of 2002.Standardized dendroarchaeological techniques were employed to collect and analyse increment core samples collected from the house known as Quaksweaqwul.Floating ring-width series were compared to a locally prepared Western redcedar (Thuja heterophylla) master tree-ring chronology (1511–2002 AD) to determine when the trees used to construct the house were felled.The findings of the survey indicate that Quaksweaqwul was built after the 1835 AD growth year.As the amount of perimeter wood loss due to weathering and preparation is difficult to ascertain, no precise felling or construction date can be presented.
The results of this survey provide insights into Huu-ay-aht First Nations history and offer direct evidence for the general state of preservation of individual house posts and beams at Kiix?in.Additionally, the successful dating of a traditional First Nations village using a dendroarchaeological approach highlights the potential this technique may hold for developing similar insights at other sites along Canada’s Pacific Coast.
The results of this survey provide insights into Huu-ay-aht First Nations history and offer direct evidence for the general state of preservation of individual house posts and beams at Kiix?in.Additionally, the successful dating of a traditional First Nations village using a dendroarchaeological approach highlights the potential this technique may hold for developing similar insights at other sites along Canada’s Pacific Coast.
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This paper explores patterns of shoreline settlement during the early and late Holocene periods in Gwaii Haanas, southern Haida Gwaii. We examine the relationship between environmental variables and aboriginal settlement during two time... more
This paper explores patterns of shoreline settlement during the early and late Holocene periods in Gwaii Haanas, southern Haida Gwaii. We examine the relationship between environmental variables and aboriginal settlement during two time periods; 9500-9400 years BP and 2000 BP to early post-contact times. While we are primarily interested in the early period settlement patterns, our method for discovering significant trends is to compare early site distributions to those for the relatively well known recent past. We test the relationships between four archaeological site types judged to be temporal representatives of simple (short-term) and complex (long-term) occupations. Differences in site locations and distributions that occur at either end of the Holocene may reflect changes in social organization, economic strategies, technology, settlement patterns, resource accessibility/management, environment conditions or perhaps differential preservation. This approach to analysis is made possible by the unusually large sample sizes we have from both early (N=111) and late (N=325) periods.
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We report here on the results of AMS dating and isotopic analysis of the frozen human remains named Kwaday Dän Ts'inchí and associated materials recovered from a glacier located in Northwest British Columbia, Canada in 1999. The isotopic... more
We report here on the results of AMS dating and isotopic analysis of the frozen human remains named Kwaday Dän Ts'inchí and associated materials recovered from a glacier located in Northwest British Columbia, Canada in 1999. The isotopic analysis of bone collagen (bulk and single amino acids) from the individual indicates a strongly marine diet, which was unexpected given the location of this find, more than 100 km inland eroding out of a high elevation glacier; however, bulk hair and bone cholesterol isotopic values indicate a shift in diet to include more terrestrial foods in the year before death. The radiocarbon dating is not straightforward, as there are difficulties in determining the appropriate marine correction for the human remains, and the spread of dates on the associated artifacts clearly indicates that this was not a single use site. By combining the most recent date on a robe worn by Kwaday Dän Ts'inchi with direct bone collagen dates we conclude that the individual likely dates to between cal A.D. 1670 to 1850, which is in the pre-(or early) European contact period for this region.
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The remains of the preserved ice body from the Kwädąy Dän Ts'ìnchį discovery were recovered from a retreating glacier in the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, British Columbia in August 1999. Despite the remote location 80km inland, bone collagen... more
The remains of the preserved ice body from the Kwädąy Dän Ts'ìnchį discovery were recovered from a retreating glacier in the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, British Columbia in August 1999. Despite the remote location 80km inland, bone collagen stable isotope analysis indicated that the individual spent much of his life in a region rich in marine foods (δ13C −13.7‰ and δ15N +17.9‰). Since finds of such bodies are exceptionally rare we undertook detailed lipid analyses in order to assess their preservation and determine whether they might provide new insights into the individual’s dietary life history. Molecular fingerprinting and compound-specific carbon isotope analysis were performed on individual lipids extracted from his bone (turnover approximately ≥1year) and skin (turnover approximately several weeks). A considerable abundance was observed of C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:0 and C18:1 fatty acids (FAs), cholesterol and hydroxy FAs (the latter being decay products). Most unusual was the presence of long-chain hydroxy FAs (LCHFAs), 10- and 12-hydroxyeicosanoic acid and 10- and 12-hydroxydocosanoic acid, in the bone. The latter components are most likely the products of microbially mediated hydration of the double-bonds of C20:1 and C22:1 FAs, the latter almost certainly originating from the consumption of a largely marine-based diet. A suite of three isoprenoidal lipids, phytanic acid, pristanic acid and 4,8,12-trimethyltetradecanoic (TMTD) acid, was also detected supporting the notion of a significant marine component of the diet for a substantial part of his life. In contrast, the skin lipid composition was dominated by C16:0 FA, with lower abundances being observed of the marine LCHFAs and isoprenoidal compounds, suggesting reduced reliance on coastal marine foods in the last period of life. This interpretation is supported by the enhanced marine dietary signal observed in the bone than skin FA δ13C values.
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The remains of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį individual, a frozen male human, were recovered from a retreating glacier within the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in British Columbia in August 1999. In order to provide information on both the... more
The remains of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį individual, a frozen male human, were recovered from a retreating glacier within the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in British Columbia in August 1999. In order to provide information on both the geographical origin of this individual and low long he spent in the remote interior region prior to his death, molecular analysis and compound-specific carbon isotope analyses were performed on individual amino acids purified from his skin and bone. Gas chromatographic quantification of constituent amino acids of both tissues revealed a molecular distribution characteristic of collagen, dominated by glycine and to a lesser extent proline, hydroxyproline and alanine. Chiral gas chromatography indicated that protein preservation in both tissues was exceptional. Carbon isotope analysis of a faunal assemblage from an earlier prehistoric site from southern British Columbia provided reference dietary amino acid d13C values for terrestrial (deer and domestic dog) and marine species (salmon and sealion), showing clear separation in all amino acids, particularly glycine which was extremely 13C-enriched in the marine animals. The distinction between terrestrial and marine organisms was increased by exploring D13CGlycine-Phenylalanine values (6.6 ! 0.6& and 15.0 ! 2.1&, respectively), which were higher in the latter by approximately 8&, mirroring the increased d15NBulk collagen values observed for the marine animals (R2 ¼ 0.78; p < 0.001). The Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį individual’s bone had a similarly elevated D13CGlycine-Phenylalanine value of 15.6 ! 1.0&, indicating his extreme reliance on marine dietary resources throughout early life. The skin amino acid d13C values were consistently lower than those observed for bone, with a concurrently lower D13CGlycine-Phenylalanine value of 12.7 ! 0.9&. The shift between the carbon isotope composition of bone (long-term diet) and skin amino acids (short-term diet) confirmed a sudden divergence away from marine food sources in the last months of life, consistent with his discovery 80 km inland.
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This paper examines the context which led to a successful collaboration on the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį Project between the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, the BC Archaeology Branch and the Royal BC Museum.
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A refined relative sea level (RSL) history spanning the past 14,300 calendar years is described for the Quadra Island area in the northern Strait of Georgia on the Pacific coast of Canada. Here marine shorelines dating to the time of... more
A refined relative sea level (RSL) history spanning the past 14,300 calendar years is described for the Quadra Island area in the northern Strait of Georgia on the Pacific coast of Canada. Here marine shorelines dating to the time of earliest post-glacial emergence are at least 197 m above present-day sea-level at 14,300 years ago. RSL fell rapidly, reaching two to three metres above present-day by 12,000 years ago. A series of raised marine terraces at ca. 4, 10 and 30 m above present day high tide level suggest the rapid fall in RSL during early post-glacial time may have been briefly interrupted by factors such as regional ice advances and recessions and global meltwater pulses generated by climatic variations. A possible minor sea-level transgression of 1e2 m around 12,000 to 11,400 years ago was followed by slow regression to modern levels. This sea-level reconstruction is providing critical input for efficient discovery and cataloging of late Pleistocene and early Holocene archaeological sites on ancient raised shorelines in the region. Integration of the sea-level history with LiDAR imagery has proven successful in locating a number of archaeological sites on these ancient shorelines.
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In 1984 we conducted a detailed shoreline inventory of a part of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation traditional territory. This paper describes the variability of house size and form that is found within a single village which has exceptional... more
In 1984 we conducted a detailed shoreline inventory of a part of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation traditional territory. This paper describes the variability of house size and form that is found within a single village which has exceptional preservation. It also looks at variations in houses between a number of Huu-ay-aht sites. Comparisons are drawn with ethnographic descriptions of Nuu-chah-nulth houses.
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IN 1999, WHEN THREE TEACHERS WERE HUNTING in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park and came across an unusual find, could they ever have imagined what their discovery would lead to or the teachings that would come from it? Could they have foreseen how... more
IN 1999, WHEN THREE TEACHERS WERE HUNTING in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park and came across an unusual find, could they ever have imagined what their discovery would lead to or the teachings that would come from it? Could they have foreseen how it would bridge cultures and times, connecting the present with the past? They triggered a complex but powerful process of learning—or kets’ädän, as it would be said in Dákwänje, the language of the Southern Tutchone people. The resulting story about the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man found on a remote glacier is more than a simple discovery of human remains and artifacts. It is a journey of learning that the hunters, and the many project participants, could never have imagined.
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Collaborations between scientists and First Nations are essential to the success of complex archaeological projects in Canada, especially those that involve human remains. The Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį project has been noted for its cooperative... more
Collaborations between scientists and First Nations are essential to the success of complex archaeological projects in Canada, especially those that involve human remains. The Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį project has been noted for its cooperative and productive approach to understanding the accidental death of an Aboriginal man hundreds of years ago. In 2002 the project partners received the Award of Merit from the British Columbia Museums Association in recognition of the partnerships created and the ongoing collaborative efforts. Such working partnerships can be difficult, even impossible, to achieve for a number of reasons, including a historical lack of trust by First Nations for archaeological projects and insufficient autonomy for the First Nations in decision-making. Also, there are often huge gaps between cultural sensitivities and scientific procedures. Insufficient time, money and personnel to devote to relationship-building are other contributing factors. This is especially true given the urgency when human remains are discovered, which can leave little time to develop the necessary partnerships before decisions are made and actions taken.
In this chapter we discuss how the successful collaboration between the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, BC Archaeology Branch, Royal BC Museum and scientific community came about. We hope that by examining our working relationship in detail, illustrating some of the initial differences and subsequent resolutions to challenges encountered, the project can contribute to future successful partnerships. We begin by summarizing pre-existing agreements and conditions that set the stage for this project to move forward in a cooperative manner. Then we recount the process of planning and implementing the recovery of the remains, as well as the subsequent negotiations to determine an appropriate level and period of study plus an overall management framework for the project.
The resulting formalized co-management agreement, which guided all ensuing project efforts, allowed each of the parties to take on different roles and areas of responsibility within the agreed-upon framework of decision-making.
In this chapter we discuss how the successful collaboration between the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, BC Archaeology Branch, Royal BC Museum and scientific community came about. We hope that by examining our working relationship in detail, illustrating some of the initial differences and subsequent resolutions to challenges encountered, the project can contribute to future successful partnerships. We begin by summarizing pre-existing agreements and conditions that set the stage for this project to move forward in a cooperative manner. Then we recount the process of planning and implementing the recovery of the remains, as well as the subsequent negotiations to determine an appropriate level and period of study plus an overall management framework for the project.
The resulting formalized co-management agreement, which guided all ensuing project efforts, allowed each of the parties to take on different roles and areas of responsibility within the agreed-upon framework of decision-making.
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Since the 1999 discovery of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ínchį man (Long Ago Person Found) in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, a wealth of studies have been undertaken to learn as much as possible about this individual and his physical and cultural... more
Since the 1999 discovery of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ínchį man (Long Ago Person Found) in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, a wealth of studies have been undertaken to learn as much as possible about this individual and his physical and cultural environment. The incredible preservation of both the body and the associated belongings have allowed for detailed archaeometric and molecular research to investigate this young man’s short- and long-term diet, place of residence, population affinity and even clan identity, as well as the approximate age of the remains. Our study follows a similar vein, by applying molecular analysis to several items associated with the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ínchį individual, including a robe and bag made from animal pelts.
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The artifacts found with people frozen in glaciers provide direct insight into the daily lives of these individuals. In comparison, burial objects are placed by others after a person’s death and may not be connected to the deceased’s... more
The artifacts found with people frozen in glaciers provide direct insight into the daily lives of these individuals. In comparison, burial objects are placed by others after a person’s death and may not be connected to the deceased’s activities in life. Several belongings were found with and near the body of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį individual, and other items lay scattered around the discovery site. These belongings may have been his or were perhaps left behind by other travellers. All of the items are exceptional because they consist of perishable organic material that rarely survives in typical archaeological sites. Like the human remains, the belongings open a window into this person’s daily life as he made his way on foot through an icy mountain landscape.
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In this chapter we report on the paleodietary information from stable isotope analysis of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man’s body tissues and explore how this dietary information helps us understand the ancient individual’s life... more
In this chapter we report on the paleodietary information from stable isotope analysis of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man’s body tissues and explore how this dietary information helps us understand the ancient individual’s life history—notably, his diet, location and geographical movements in the last year of his life.
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We report here on a comprehensive radiocarbon dating program to date the age of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man. The individual was found in association with a number of artifacts, including a plant fibre hat, a robe-style fur garment and... more
We report here on a comprehensive radiocarbon dating program to date the age of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man. The individual was found in association with a number of artifacts, including a plant fibre hat, a robe-style fur garment and various wooden items. The first series of radiocarbon dates on this associated material ranged from 500 to 120 Before Present, indicating that the area is a multi-phase site where various organic objects were deposited over at least a 400 radiocarbon-year time period. Of these, two initial conventional radiocarbon dates on clothing—a hat and robe fragment—directly associated with the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man indicated that the individual was at least 550 years old: Arctic Ground Squirrel fur from the robe, 450 ± 40 BP; the hat’s split-root plant fibre, 500 ± 30 BP. To confirm the dating of this individual and better clarify the ages of the associated material culture, we undertook additional radiocarbon dating, including two separate dates directly on the individual himself. We also re-dated the hat and robe fragments reported earlier, obtaining dates that were younger than initially reported but similar to the new dates we obtained on associated artifacts and on the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man himself.
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A description of the field work conducted at the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį site. Includes details concerning the discovery, assessment, excavation, botanical research and monitoring visits spanning 1999 through 2005. We describe the methods... more
A description of the field work conducted at the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį site. Includes details concerning the discovery, assessment, excavation, botanical research and monitoring visits spanning 1999 through 2005. We describe the methods used for identification, collection and recording of the human remains, the man’s belongings and the other artifacts and materials collected in the larger site area.
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On a late summer day, many years ago, a young man set out on a voyage through the mountains. He never reached his destination. When his remains were discovered by three British Columbia hunters, roughly three hundred years after he was... more
On a late summer day, many years ago, a young man set out on a voyage through the mountains. He never reached his destination. When his remains were discovered by three British Columbia hunters, roughly three hundred years after he was caught by a storm or other accident, his story had faded from even the long memory of the region’s people. First Nations elders decided to call the discovery Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį—Long Ago Person Found.
The discovery of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man raised many questions. Who was he and how did he die? Where had he come from? Where was he going, and for what purpose? What did his world look like? But his remains, preserved in glacial ice for centuries, offered answers, too—as did the traditional knowledge and experience of the Indigenous peoples in whose territories he lived and died.
In this comprehensive and collaborative account, scientific analysis and cultural knowledge interweave to describe a life that ended just as Europeans were about to arrive in the northwest. What emerges is not only a portrait of an individual and his world, but also a model for how diverse ways of knowing, in both scholarly and oral traditions, can complement each other to provide a new understanding of our complex histories.
The discovery of the Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį man raised many questions. Who was he and how did he die? Where had he come from? Where was he going, and for what purpose? What did his world look like? But his remains, preserved in glacial ice for centuries, offered answers, too—as did the traditional knowledge and experience of the Indigenous peoples in whose territories he lived and died.
In this comprehensive and collaborative account, scientific analysis and cultural knowledge interweave to describe a life that ended just as Europeans were about to arrive in the northwest. What emerges is not only a portrait of an individual and his world, but also a model for how diverse ways of knowing, in both scholarly and oral traditions, can complement each other to provide a new understanding of our complex histories.