Environmental Change and Terrestrial Resource Use by the Thule and Inuit of Labrador, Canada

• Published in: Geoarchaeology
• Main Authors: Roy, Natasha, Bhiry, Najat, Woollett, James
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2012
• Subjects: Canada; inuit
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gea.21391; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fgea.21391; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gea.21391

The object of this study is to document how the I nuit on the northern coast of L abrador, C anada used terrestrial resources such as peat and wood during the L ittle I ce A ge ( LIA A.D. 1500–1870). Paleoecological investigations consisting of pollen and macrofossil analyses were undertaken in conjunction with archaeological excavations at the I nuit winter settlement sites of O akes B ay 1, located in the N ain region of north‐central L abrador. 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 N eoglacial period. At ca. 1000 cal. yr B.P. , the reappearance of hygrophilic species and the establishment of L arix laricina provide evidence of a return to more humid conditions that in turn triggered the onset of the paludification of sandy terraces in the D og I sland 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 I nuit for house construction and heating in the D og I sland region.