Géoarchéologie d'une maison semi-souterraine thuléenne-inuit en contexte périglaciaire : étude des processus taphonomiques

• Main Author: Barbel, Heloïse
• Other Authors: Bhiry, Najat, Todisco, Dominique
• Format: Thesis
• Language: French
• Published: Université Laval 2018
• Subjects: archeo; geo; Nunavik; Canada; inuit
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/33145

This research was carried out in Kuuvik Bay (Nunavik, Canada) to document Dorset and Thule-Inuit occupations in an active periglacial context. Geomorphological, stratigraphical, micromorphological, macrofossil and geochemical (FTIR and ICP-AES) analyses were performed over a single-family semi-subterranean Thule-Inuit house of Paaliup Qarmangit 1 site and the surrounding periglacial valley to document site formation processes of the studied structure and to identify anthropogenic chemical signatures in the soil of the house. Off-site data enabled to reconstruct the sedimentary environments in the valley since the last glaciation. In-site approach revealed a Dorset occupation of the site (after 143-327cal A.D.) prior Thule-Inuit settlement (between 1317-1413 cal A.D. and 1466-1642 cal A.D.). Strategic features of the site (such as availability of building material, food, and water resources) may explain its use by two different cultures. Results showed the predominance of niveo-aeolian and nivation processes in the formation of the unit containing archaeological remains and provided evidence of post-depositional natural and/or anthropogenic reworking of Dorset artefacts. Soil of the house recorded moderate but significant anthropogenic chemical signatures (e.g., Mg, Fe, S), which may have been buffered by pedological processes, such as leaching and biological remobilization, and/or anthropogenic processes, such as a regular cleaning (maintenance) of the structure Cette recherche a été effectuée dans la baie de Kuuvik (Nunavik, Canada) pour mieux comprendre les occupations dorsétiennes et thuléennes-inuit dans un contexte biophysique postglaciaire en évolution. Des analyses géomorphologiques, stratigraphiques, micromorphologiques, macrofossiles et géochimiques (FTIR et ICP-AES) ont été effectuées sur une maison semi-souterraine unifamiliale hivernale thuléenne-inuit du site Paaliup Qarmangit 1 et dans la vallée dans laquelle elle s’inscrit afin de documenter les processus de formation et la taphonomie de la ...