Canadian Arctic Soapstone Cooking Technology

• Published in: North American Archaeologist
• Main Authors: Frink, Liam, Glazer, Dashiell, Harry, Karen G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2012
• Subjects: Archeology; Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.2190/na.33.4.c; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2190/NA.33.4.c

This article examines the thermal properties of soapstone in comparison to other materials, to help us explore why Arctic cooks might have elected to use this material for their cooking containers. Low energy water boiling experiments, designed to simulate the low energy, oil-based fuel technologies of the Arctic, were undertaken. The results indicate that compared to metal and ceramic containers, soapstone is better able to store heat. We propose that this property makes soapstone especially useful in Arctic environments, where fuel sources are limited and indigenous heating techniques commonly relied on low energy. By understanding how heat is absorbed into metal, ceramic, and stone containers and how it is subsequently released into water we gain important contextual insights into the technological choices made by Arctic people.