Availability and exploitation of wood resources by palaeoeskimos and Inuit on the west coast of Nunavik (Québec, Canada)

• Main Author: Steelandt, Stéphanie
• Other Authors: Centre de Recherche en Archéologie, Archéosciences, Histoire (CReAAH), Le Mans Université (UM)-Université de Rennes (UR)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Nantes - UFR Histoire, Histoire de l'Art et Archéologie (UFR HHAA), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Ministère de la Culture (MC), Université de Rennes, Université Laval (Québec, Canada), Dominique Marguerie, Najat Bhiry
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 2014
• Subjects: Driftwood; Archaeological woods; Charcoals; Identifications; Availability; Exploitation; Nunavik; Bois flottés; Bois archéologiques; Charbons; Disponibilité; [SDU.STU.PG]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology; [SHS.ARCHEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Archaeology and Prehistory; Canada; Umiujaq; Inukjuak; Ivujivik; Akulivik; inuit; James Bay
• Online Access: https://theses.hal.science/tel-01142908; https://theses.hal.science/tel-01142908/document; https://theses.hal.science/tel-01142908/file/STEELANDT_Stephanie.pdf

This study presents the characteristics of modern and archaeological wood resources found on the west coast of Nunavik and documents their collection, use and origin. The study of 1573 driftwood samples from beaches around Ivujivik, Akulivik, Inukjuak and Umiujaq reveals that these woods were fewer, smaller sizes and more degraded in more northern areas. Eight taxa were identified under a microscope. Spruce was the most abundant taxon, followed by willow, larch, poplar and alder. White cedar, white birch and balsam fir were also present but extremely rare. The composition of the 293 woods, 550 charcoals and 11 wooden artifacts from 11 archaeological sites in the four study areas was not different. However, charcoals of red pine and chestnut, imported, were found at an archeological site in Ivujivik. In addition, many local ericaceous charcoals and an oak sample were found at the archaeological sites around Umiujaq. The presence of white cedar and white birch in both modern and archaeological wood samples indicated that the wood originated to the south and southeast of James Bay. This conclusion is also supported by the comparative studies and cross-dating of the average growth rings. Interviews with 27 elders from the four villages showed that wood vocabulary was more diversified in the southern villages. Shrubs were cut in autumn and used for making mattresses or fire. The larger driftwood pieces were primarily used for the construction of boats, kayaks or sleds. In Ivujivik, driftwood samples were mainly collected in summer by boat around the islands. Further south, the large wood pieces were collected or cut in winter and carried by dogsled. Finally, experiments we performed to chemically differentiate driftwood from cut wood in order to help to deduce the collection method of the large archaeological wood specimens, showed a stronger enrichment in sodium in the submerged woods. Principal component analyses (PCA), based on the relative concentrations of cations, show that the immersed and dry samples can be ...