ABSTRACT The object of this study is to document how the Inuit on the northern coast of Labrador,... more ABSTRACT The object of this study is to document how the Inuit on the northern coast of Labrador, Canada used terrestrial resources such as peat and wood during the Little Ice Age (LIA; A.D. 1500–1870). Paleoecological investigations consisting of pollen and macrofossil analyses were undertaken in conjunction with archaeological excavations at the Inuit winter settlement sites of Oakes Bay 1, located in the Nain region of north-central Labrador. Our data indicate that the major changes in terrestrial ecosystems of this coastal region were triggered by climate change. From ca. 5700 to 3000 cal. yr B.P., climatic conditions were relatively warm and moist. At ca. 3000 cal. yr B.P. conditions became significantly drier and colder, which corresponds to broader climatic trends during the Neoglacial period. At ca. 1000 cal. yr B.P., the reappearance of hygrophilic species and the establishment of Larix laricina provide evidence of a return to more humid conditions that in turn triggered the onset of the paludification of sandy terraces in the Dog Island region. Peat accumulation persisted after ca. 580 cal. yr B.P. likely due to the elevation of the frost table during the LIA. Elevated frost tables contributed to water saturation of the surface during the spring, creating conditions that were conducive to the preservation of organic material. Natural resources such as trees and peat were therefore readily available and more abundant during the LIA and extensively used by the Inuit for house construction and heating in the Dog Island region.
To document the Human-environment relationship in northern Labrador, paleoenvironmental and palae... more To document the Human-environment relationship in northern Labrador, paleoenvironmental and palaeoecological studies have been undertaken on and around of archaeological sites Oakes Bay 1, located at Dog Island, and Koliktalik 6, at the island Koliktalik. Fourteen marine terraces were identified. According the relative sea level curve of Clark and Fitzhugh (1990), the oldest terrace, Tl was built around 9000 years BP, while the most recent one, T14 have emerged around 2000 years BP. Pollen data highlight four phases of canopy development since 5700 years étal. BP: 1) a shrub tundra, 2) a transition from tundra to shrub tundra trees, 3) an opening of the canopy and 4) a return to humid conditions. The macrofossils data sampled from paludified terraces, T13 and 14 show that wood and peat were intensively used by Thule and Inuit to built and heat their habitations.
ABSTRACT The object of this study is to document how the Inuit on the northern coast of Labrador,... more ABSTRACT The object of this study is to document how the Inuit on the northern coast of Labrador, Canada used terrestrial resources such as peat and wood during the Little Ice Age (LIA; A.D. 1500–1870). Paleoecological investigations consisting of pollen and macrofossil analyses were undertaken in conjunction with archaeological excavations at the Inuit winter settlement sites of Oakes Bay 1, located in the Nain region of north-central Labrador. Our data indicate that the major changes in terrestrial ecosystems of this coastal region were triggered by climate change. From ca. 5700 to 3000 cal. yr B.P., climatic conditions were relatively warm and moist. At ca. 3000 cal. yr B.P. conditions became significantly drier and colder, which corresponds to broader climatic trends during the Neoglacial period. At ca. 1000 cal. yr B.P., the reappearance of hygrophilic species and the establishment of Larix laricina provide evidence of a return to more humid conditions that in turn triggered the onset of the paludification of sandy terraces in the Dog Island region. Peat accumulation persisted after ca. 580 cal. yr B.P. likely due to the elevation of the frost table during the LIA. Elevated frost tables contributed to water saturation of the surface during the spring, creating conditions that were conducive to the preservation of organic material. Natural resources such as trees and peat were therefore readily available and more abundant during the LIA and extensively used by the Inuit for house construction and heating in the Dog Island region.
To document the Human-environment relationship in northern Labrador, paleoenvironmental and palae... more To document the Human-environment relationship in northern Labrador, paleoenvironmental and palaeoecological studies have been undertaken on and around of archaeological sites Oakes Bay 1, located at Dog Island, and Koliktalik 6, at the island Koliktalik. Fourteen marine terraces were identified. According the relative sea level curve of Clark and Fitzhugh (1990), the oldest terrace, Tl was built around 9000 years BP, while the most recent one, T14 have emerged around 2000 years BP. Pollen data highlight four phases of canopy development since 5700 years étal. BP: 1) a shrub tundra, 2) a transition from tundra to shrub tundra trees, 3) an opening of the canopy and 4) a return to humid conditions. The macrofossils data sampled from paludified terraces, T13 and 14 show that wood and peat were intensively used by Thule and Inuit to built and heat their habitations.
Uploads