The Beachridge Site:
A Middle Woodland Encampment Within the Sydenham River Drainage


Robert H. Pihl
Archaeological Services Inc.
Toronto, Ontario

Abstract: The Beachridge site (AfHj-68) is a small, undisturbed Middle 
Woodland encampment that was completely excavated prior to the construction 
of an Ontario Hydro transmission line west of London.  Located on a glacial 
beach ridge over 500m from a channelized creek, the site is characterized 
by a concentration of lithic debitage associated with a living floor, an 
abundance of fire-cracked rock and fragments of unfired clay, an artifact 
assemblage featuring the mid-portion of a single ceramic vessel but few 
informal stone tools, and a small circular pit.  The site function is 
interpreted and the importance of this site type within the regional 
Middle Woodland settlement pattern is discussed.