Three components occur in Zones II and IIIa at Charlie Lake Cave. Each component is represented by a relatively small number of artifacts and animal bones, and may represent only a few hours or days of human activity. The two lowest components, 1 and 2, are characterized by chert and quartzite stone tools, very little debitage, and butchered bison bone . The lowest component dates to about 10,500 B.P. and the later dates to about 10,000 B.P.Although artifacts and bison bones have been recovered from the base of the gully, there is no evidence that people actually inhabited either the gully or the cave. It is equally likely that the occupation site was on the hill above the gully, and that refuse was deposited in the gully below.
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AT CHARLIE LAKE CAVE more -->
The artifact inventory for both components includes fairly carefully made chert artifacts, such as a projectile point and convergent scraper, and much larger quartzite artifacts which probably functioned as butchering tools, possibly for smashing bones to extract marrow. None of these artifacts was made on site, and the almost complete lack of debitage strongly suggests that hunters had "geared up" for a kill by preparing artifacts elsewhere. Most of the quartzite artifacts could be made quite quickly, and it is unlikely that they would have been curated for long.
Bison bones from the two early components are generally well preserved, and display a variety of modifications resulting from human butchery and subsequent scavenging. Evidence for butchery includes spiralfractures, impact marks, and cut marks . Carnivore damage is obvious on many specimens. Rapid sediment deposition has resulted in good preservation of bone, including such fragile specimens as a newborn bison innominate.
The small sample of bison bone precludes a detailed analysis of element frequency. However, cranium, vertebrae and ribs are notably underrepresented, and limbs are overrepresented. The presence of some articulating specimens suggests that portions of limbs, especially lower limbs, were discarded without intensive butchery and processing.
Associated with the earliest component is a relatively complete raven skeleton. The excellent preservation conditions are demonstrated by preservation of tracheal rings . It is difficult to determine if the bird was deposited by people, or whether it dies at the site. Ravens today nest on cliffs around Charlie Lake, and the cave might have been an attractive site for birds at this time. Ravens would also be attracted to large mammal kills, and the bird could also have been killed while scavenging.
The third component dates to about 9500 B.P., and is very different from the previous two. The main features of this component are (a) a large number of retouch flakes which suggest that at least two bifaces were resharpened, (b) another largely complete raven skeleton, and (c) a wedge- shaped microblade core associated with the skeleton. Careful excavation of the raven skeleton demonstrated that the bird was lying with the ventral side down, leaning towards the left side. The four limbs, pectoral girdle, and sternum were preserved, but the skull and mandible, pelvic girdle, most vertebrae and ribs were missing. These more fragile bones may have been destroyed by chemical erosion, which has also pitted the surface of the surviving bones and rendered them relatively fragile, causing numerous post-depositional breaks. It is likely that the skeleton was originally complete. The microblade core was associated with the raven's feet. We have no way of demonstrating whether the association was created by humans or whether it is fortuitous. In my opinion, people deposited a complete raven and a microblade core or reasons which remain elusive. By this time the site may have functioned as a lookout or game monitoring station where bifaces were prepared. The raven and microbalde core may have been cached temporarily and abandoned, or they may have been deposited deliberately for ritual reasons.
It is difficult to evalute a single microblade core in terms of technological traditions, especially as this one is made on a piece of tabular chert. In overall form it resembles wedge-shaped cores from Alaska. However, it was not initially prepared bifacially, and the platform was not modified to any great extent.
