So many masks!
Saturday at site, and warm and sunny weather – although the clouds looked threatening all day.
In the old house we are very close to the bottom, which seems to mean that the house floors are very thin – or in the centre of the house – very wet, and although interesting the finds are not that spectacular. Spectacular, however, is the word of choice for the new house. Not one, but four(!), masks were found here on Saturday.
This small mask was found by Sean. We find it quite scary looking, but it has been suggested it might represent a bug.
This large mask, found by Lise, is less threatening in its appearance. It may represent a caribou. Holes on the base indicate that it once had a moving lower jaw, but this mask is otherwise complete. It has traces of paint across the nose and brow.
Elder John Smith examining the caribou mask
Jonathan was working all day in a large pit – probably a storage pit – under the boardwalk leading into the new house. At the bottom he found two complete bentwood vessels – one of them contained a large dog skull, a broken kayak rib and a sharpening stone.
Jonathan and his bowl
Chris with the tiny mask – maybe representing a bird? – and a wooden bowl upside down.
Processing finds in the field lab
Fragment of bentwood bucket bottom with seal nose owenership mark – found in the old house
End of week three crew
Absolutely fabulous!! Great work and all smiles in the photos – happiness in finding so many wonderful artifacts!!