Maritime Archaic

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The Maritime Archaic is an archaeological period lasting from approximately 7000 BC into modern times. It refers to the culture of sea-mammal hunters in the subarctic along the Atlantic Coast of North America. Known Maritime Archaic sites occur along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Labrador. Their settlements included longhouses, and boat topped temporary or seasonal houses. They engaged in long-distance trade, with white chert from northern Labradour being found as far south as Maine.

The Maritime Archaic is one group of North American Archaic stage peoples. The most likely direct descendants of the Maritime Archaic culture were the Beothuks of Newfoundland who were exterminated in the 19th Century, or the Dorset culture, which died out during the Inuit expansion. The large and varied Algonquian native group present in subarctic eastern Canada today is most often regarded as originating along the St. Lawrence river. (Wikipedia: Algonquin)

The Maritime Archaic period is best known from a mortuary site in Newfoundland at Port au Choix. This site revealed over 100 graves embellished with red ochre. The graves contained many elaborate artifacts, including barbed bone points, daggers of ivory, antler, or bone, toggling harpoons, shell-beaded clothing, and a burial suit made from more than 200 skins of the now-extinct Great Auk, indicating a stratified society with trade and some level of social complexity (Tuck, 1976).

Another significant Maritime Archaic find is the "Red Ochre Culture" burials throughout the North East United States. They may represent the last phases of the Maritime Archaic as they contain significant finds of white chert artifacts common in other Maritime Archaic sites. This is currently debated.

[edit] References

  • Fagan, Brian (2005): Ancient North America: 188-189. Thames & Hudson, London.
  • Tuck, J. A. (1976): Ancient peoples of Port au Choix. The Excavation of an Archaic Indian Cemetery in Newfoundland. Newfoundland Social and Economic Studies 17.
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