The Genesis of Labrador's Indigenous landscapes: a review of research approaches and current knowledge

• Main Author: Carlson, Ivan
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2022
• Subjects: Arctic; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/15330/; https://research.library.mun.ca/15330/1/thesis.pdf

This thesis presents an archaeological and paleoecological literature-based synthesis on the current state of knowledge concerning the development of Labrador’s Indigenous landscapes and proposes a strategy for future research projects examining past human-environment interactions and anthropogenically influenced ecological change in the region. This is achieved through an examination and synthesis of archaeological literature on Labrador’s archaeological culture histories and paleoecological research examining the environmental impacts of past and contemporary Indigenous groups from around the circumpolar north. A review of 60 available paleoecological research papers demonstrates the efficacy of five methodological approaches in arctic and subarctic regions: geochemical soil analysis, palynology, archaeoentomology, paleolimnology, and dendrochronology. Then, following an account of Labrador’s Indigenous culture histories based on available archaeological literature, a four-point research strategy is proposed to examine Indigenous-environment relationships at various spatial and temporal scales. This includes investigations of the following environmental contexts: (1) regional, through the sampling of lake and pond sediments; (2) local, by examining archaeological site-adjacent peat deposits; (3) site-level, for example through dendrochronological and geochemical soil analysis; and (4) community, including documentation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous toponyms. This research strategy is intended a useful tool for future sustainable research in Labrador but may be applicable more broadly.