The Avery site at Rock Lake : a prehistoric campsite in Southwestern Manitoba

Abstract

The Avery site, in southwestern Manitoba, was first excavated between 1944 and 1948 by Chris Vickers and later during 1966, by the University of Manitoba. The artifacts recovered during the 1944-48 and the 1966 excavations were combined, sorted into function classes and subdivided into types according to clusters of attributes shown to have cultural-historical significance at other sites. The Avery material was compared to collections from stratified sites in adjacent regions. This resulted in the identification of artifacts representing at least six archaeological units at the Avery site. These units are thought to represent the major archaeological cultures of southwestern Manitoba during the last 3-4000 years. These are: the McKean-Duncan-Hanna phase (ca 1500-1000 B.C.); the Pelican Lake phase (ca 500 B.C.-O A.D.); the Besant phase (ca. A.D. 300-500); the Avonlea phase (ca. A.D. 400- 600); the Manitoba phase (ca. A.D. 900-1600) and the Selkirk phase (ca. A.D. 1350-1750). All of these archaeological units except the Manitoba and Selkirk phases are also known from other regions on the northern Plains. It is predicted that in the future local variations in these units will be defined and that regional sequences will increase in complexity.