Abstract

In 1954 R.S. MacNeish defined a Northwest Microblade tradition based mainly on material from the western District of Mackenzie, and in 1967 F.H. West defined a microblade using Denali complex based on material from Alaska. In his definition MacNeish stressed the presence of notched points, and his samples had few wedge-shaped microblade cores and notched transverse burins which are key elements of the Denali complex. Therefore West found the need for a new taxon. Subsequently wedge-shaped Denali (Campus) microblade cores have been found to be abundant in the Yukon and adjacent areas. And in Alaska there are notched points in a so-called Late Denali. With due allowance for regional and temporal variation, the two constructs describe a single entity. The Northwest Microblade tradition takes precedence.