Abstract

The Napaw Sipik Site, (FiMq-2) is a campsite near the Man River in eastern Saskatchewan, where Highway 55 between Nipawin and The Pas now crosses the river. The artifacts, features and apparent brief and singular nature of the occupation suggest a seasonal base camp placed to exploit a specific set of resources including but likely not restricted to the lithic raw materials in the cobbles of the Man River channel. If Areas 2 and 3 were occupied simultaneously, we can infer a multiple family habitation as indicated by the variety of activities reflected in the assemblage and the possible presence of a lodge. Area 2 was occupied between A.D. 830 and 910 (Beta-168249). Napaw Sipik is, therefore, a contemporary of the earliest components of Meyer's (2002) River House Complex (A.D. 900 to 1300). Like other sites of the River House Complex, Napaw Sipik contains net-impressed and Laurel type (Rollans et. al. 1993) pottery, triangular flake and Late Side-notched points and lacks Avonlea points. The results of this study and future research opportunities with this collection or excavations outside the impact zone, may provide evidence to rise to Meyer's 'significant interpretive challenges' regarding the inclusion of Avonlea style pottery in some River House assemblages (Meyer 2002). Of particular is that the Napaw Sipik site in the centre of Meyer's River House culture area and ideally located to provide evidence to questions of the movement of forest and prairie peoples around the turn of the last millennium.