Northeast Subsistence-Settlement Change: A.D. 700 –1300

Figure 6.1. Early Late Woodland (Late Woodland I) in southwestern Ontario.
(Walker et al. 1998).
Systematic coring of the Grand Banks site detailed
the floodplain structure there (Crawford et al. 1998;
Walker et al. 1998). In recent years we have turned to
more efficiently surveying floodplain geomorphology
using ground-penetrating radar. In general, stable
floodplains have one or two back channels taking
water away from occupations during high-water seasons.
These channels also provide habitats for wetland
plants and animals of economic importance to people.
The large river bar below the Meyer site (Figure 6.2),
with limited evidence of occupation, has evidence of
complex channel braiding. The lack of stability, particularly
in the downriver portion of the river bar would
have discouraged human habitation there.
RECENTLY INVESTIGATED SITES IN
THE LOWER GRAND RIVER VALLEY
Bell Flats (AfGx-151)
and Armstrong Flats (AfGx-152)
Two sites discovered by our survey are Bell Flats
and Armstrong Flats (Figures 6.2, 6.3). Bell Flats is on
a narrow section of the pinched river flat at the base
of a terrace. Preliminary investigations indicate the
presence of an artifact-bearing palaeosol about 40 cm
below the surface. Recent alluvial deposition has created
a smaller and lower second river bar, where
Armstrong Flats is situated (Figure 6.2). The higher bar
has a palaeosol at a depth of approximately 40 cm,
from which artifacts have been recovered. Both sites
appear to date no later than Princess Point due to the
presence of cordmarked pottery only. A third locale,
Meyer Flats, has not been investigated, but this
appears to be another floodplain site associated with
a well-defined palaeosol (Figure 6.2).
CNR Bridge (AfGx-5)
The CNR Bridge site is situated on the upriver limit
of a river bar (Figure 6.4). The soils here are predominantly
clay. Closer to the river, an alluvial deposit is
over 80 cm thick. Artifacts include nine core fragments,
a stone pipe fragment, and a small collection
of tools including a drill tip, three projectile point
midsections, and a scraper. A single decorated rim
sherd is among the 55 ceramic fragments. Two
palaeosols are present at the southern extent of our
excavations. An artifact bearing palaeosol is 40-60 cm
below the surface, and a second sterile (to date)
palaeosol is 80 cm below the surface.
118 Crawford and Smith