Abstract

Until recently, the Western Basin Late Woodland Tradition of southwestern-most Ontario has been an unknown archaeological entity. However, several salvage excavations conducted over the last two field seasons have substantially increased the database for this cultural group. In particular, data recovered suggests that the settlement-subsistence pattern for this group was characterized by band coalescence-dispersal over the course of the seasonal round, based on periods of resource abundance and scarcity. Consequently, sites tend to reflect subsistence strategies utilized for relatively specific periods of the seasonal round. This is so for the Van Bemmel site (AdHm-31), a Younge phase (900-1200 A. D.) habitation located on McGreagor's Creek in west Kent County. Preliminary results suggest that site function was as a late fall hunting camp, where butchering and processing of mainly deer was the primary (almost exclusive) activity. This is reflected in both settlement data, faunal remains, and material culture.