Abstract

Although the Engigstciak site of northernmost Yukon territory, excavated 20 years ago, is best known for its purported early British Mountain phase, other collections from the site, particularly the Arctic Small Tool tradition and paleo-Eskimo components, which never have been fully described, potentially are among the most significant material recovered from the North American Arctic. Geographic parameters, together with the known early distribution of Eskimos, place this site at a determining position in a corridor between Alaska and the remainder of the Arctic area. In contrast to regions farther west and east, this corridor is an area of little latitudinal (insular-coastal-inland) depth possessing compressed ecological zones. Thus, it is aptly suited for examination under a migration hypothesis. The present paper is a progress report on a re-examination of collections from the Engigstciak site.