Abstract:

Preliminary study of lithic material at the Early Paleo-Indian Mount Albion West site, located on the Niagara Escarpment, shows that at least three raw materials were used. They include not only Fossil Hill and Onondaga, which are common during this period, but also locally-quarried Lockport (Ancaster) chert, which appears to have been used to manufacture unifacial tools. The presence of three cherts of varying quality and from different source areas contributes to our understanding of stone tool production and the mobility of Paleo-Indians in Southern Ontario.