ABSTRACT: Holocene Man and Environments in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.

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Abstract

This study considers the prehistory of the Crowsnest Pass, in the Northern Rocky Mountains, from an economic standpoint. It is argued that, by understanding the relationship between prehistoric human groups and their environments, greater insights into other aspects of culture and society can be obtained. The relationship between human groups and environment can be ascertained by studying prehistoric environments, food procurement activities, and site location. The modern environments of the Crowsnest Pass includes grasslands forests and alpine vegetation in a varied topography. Palynology and pedology show that these three zones have existed in the Pass since at least 10,000 B.P. Periods of grassland expansion occurred at 7500 to 5500 B.P., and 4000 to 3000 B,P. Periods of forest expansion were c. 10,000 B.P., 5500 to 4000 B,P., and 3000 B.P, to the present. Changes in vegetation can be correlated with changes taking place in other areas of the Rockies. Human groups have occupied the Pass since at least 10,000 B.P. Local subphases of the Southern Alberta sequence can be defined for the Pass, and relationships with surrounding areas can be documented from artifact styles and lithic raw material distribution. Analysis of faunal remains and site location shows that the seasonal round of prehistoric groups in the Pass was based upon ungulate hunting, Different areas of the Crowsnest Pass were occupied at different seasons in response to behavioral changes in ungulate populations. Bison were the dominant food source during late fall, winter and eariy spring. At other times of year, a wider resources base was utilised. This pattern can be traced back for at least 8000 years. Environmental change in the Crowsnest Pass had little discernable effects upon human groups, because the tyhree major vegetation zones were always present, As environmental zonal boundaries changed, animal populations may have fluctuated, but basic seasonal patterns remained the same for animals and man.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology