Examining Diachronic Use of Exotic Lithic Material from a Multicomponent Archaeological Site on Newfoundland, Canada

• Main Author: Robbins, Addison
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Scholars Archive 2024
• Subjects: Newfoundland; Exotic Lithic Material; Ramah Chert; Anthropology; Canada; Beothuk; eskimo*; Paleo-Eskimo
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/all_honors/29; https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/context/all_honors/article/1029/viewcontent/Robbins_Addison_Thesis.pdf

Newfoundland has been home to several different cultural groups such as the Maritime Archaic, different Paleo-Eskimo groups, the Beothuk, and many others. These cultures are all unique in their own ways and the majority have been documented using the exotic material, Ramah chert. This material is typically found within seabed’s or within deep lakes because of the continuous sediment deposit. The excavation and lab analysis have emphasized the continuous use of this material over time. This can be attributed to several factors such as cultural significance or durability. This paper will mainly touch on the culturally significant aspects because of the rarity of the material and the extensive measures it takes to gain access to the material overall.