Abstract

In the northern Dene community of Patuanak hearths are not re-used for different purposes. Instead, hearths are used for one very specific task such as cooking, making drying meat, or smoking hides. Through ethnoarchaeological research in Patuanak, archeological signatures have been identified that will allow archaeologists to assign function to hearths. Focusing mainly on plant remains, this paper explores how innovative paleobotanical techniques will allow archaeologists to assign function and even ethnicity to archaeological hearth remains.