Title: Environmental Change and Terrestrial Resource Use by the Thule and Inuit of Labrador, Canada
Citation: Bhiry, N., Roy, N., & Woollett, J. (2019). Environmental Change and Terrestrial Resource Use by the Thule and Inuit of Labrador, Canada. NWT Discovery Portal. https://nwtdiscoveryportal.enr.gov.nt.ca/geoportal/catalog/search/resource/details.page?uuid=%7B2D0E7752-F316-4DCE-B0E8-83392F2B7E7A%7D
Study Site: Dog Island, Nain, Nunastiavut, Newfoundland and Labrador
Purpose: In this study, we used macrofossil and pollen analysis to examine how the Inuit of north-central Labrador used terrestrial resources such as peat and wood in response to climate changes. Macrofossil analysis was performed on peat monoliths taken from an archaeological site, and pollen analysis was conducted on a peat core extracted from the peaty margin of a nearby lake, located approximately 500 m to the south. By comparing our results with historical and archaeological data, especially with regard to subsistence economies (see for example, BriceBennett, 1977; Kaplan, 1983; Kaplan & Woollett, 2000; Woollett, 2003, 2007, 2010), we tested the hypothesis that changes in environmental conditions and vegetation were triggered mainly by climate. The aims of this study are as follows: (1) to reconstruct local and regional changes in the environment and vegetation on the Dog Island region of Labrador; (2) to determine whether climate was a principal factor involved in those changes; (3) to determine to what extent human activities were also involved in local vegetation changes. Fieldwork for the study was conducted on and in the vicinity of two archaeological sites: the main site was Oakes Bay 1 (HeCg-08) located on Dog Island, and the second was Koliktalik 6 (HdCg-23), located on the island of Koliktalik.
Abstract: The lake selected for coring is located 500 m south of Oakes Bay 1 archeological site. An 80-cm long core was extracted from the peaty margin of the lake. Loss-on-ignition (LOI) and pollen and spore analyses were performed at 2-cm intervals on this core.
Supplemental Information Summary:
Research:
Further Info: Roy, Natasha & Bhiry, Najat & Woollett, James. (2012). Environmental Change and Terrestrial Resource Use by the Thule and Inuit of Labrador, Canada. Geoarchaeology. 27. 10.1002/gea.21391.
Status: Complete
Keywords:
soil carbon,
effects of disturbance,
peat properties,
vegetation,
climate change,
Paleoecology,
Geographical coordinates: North: 56.666918, South: 56.666918 East: -61.131324 West: -61.131324
Bounding Temporal Extent: Start Date: 2004-08-01, End
Date: 2004-09-15
