BATZA-TENA - THE TRAIL TO OBSIDIAN

Thirty years ago the sources of obsidian utilized prehistorically in n orthwestern Alaska were a geological mystery. In 1967 the principal ge ologic source for this region was located by the U.S. Geological Surve y on the Koyukuk River. During the next four seasons it was investigat ed by Canadian Museum of Civilization archaeologists. The geologic sou rce is located between the Indian and Little Indian rivers in the area known to the local Koyukon Athapaskans as Batza Tena. The high-grade obsidian occurs as nodules in perlitic ash at the outcrop and is widel y distributed westward nearly to the banks of the Koyukuk River in gra vels and colluvium. Surrounding and within the source area are numerou s flaking stations where obsidian was reduced to biface roughouts and made into other artifacts. Within this array of sites are several that have yielded assemblages which by their nature represent a broader ra nge of activities than lithic reduction and may be regarded as camp si tes. From these it has been possible to construct a tentative sequence of occupation at Batza Tena. The present article, however, focuses on the description of Batza Tena and the history of its discovery and fi rst archaeological investigations.(1)