Maritime Archaic tradition - Discovered
The origins of the Maritime Archaic Indians lie in the late Palaeoindian period, when the first human inhabitants moved into North and South America. It should be noted that their ancestors were Palaeoindians, which differs from the later Palaeoeskimo culture. (Palaeo - meaning ?old?)

The Maritime Archaic peoples flourished throughout Atlantic Canada from about 7500-3000 years ago. These were the first inhabitants of the island of Newfoundland, migrating here sometime around 5000 years ago from southern Labrador; presumably across the Strait of Belle Isle which is 18 km wide at its narrowest point.

The Maritime Archaic tradition was named after the discovery of a 4400 year old burial site at Port au Choix, in the late 1960s, just south of here. Archaic refers to an ancient pre-agricultural, or hunting and gathering, way of life. Maritime describes the dependence these first prehistoric peoples had on the sea and its resources.

A 7500 year old Maritime Archaic Indian burial mound excavated at L?Anse Amour in southern Labrador, revealed a walrus tusk, fish bones, a true toggling harpoon, and other objects, indicating an intense adaptation to the sea. The sophistication in hunting practices and skill in woodworking is also demonstrated by other tools and weapons, such as those uncovered at the Big Droke and Caines sites, in Bird Cove; including gouges, axes and adzes (woodworking), and notched and stemmed projectile points, lances and bayonets, bifaces, whetstones, and blades (hunting and processing animals).

Maritime Archaic Indian showed their sophistication in woodworking through crafted tools such as these, excavated at the Bird Cove Project's Big Droke site.

Greg Browning stands beside the 7500 year old Maritime Archaic Indian burial mound in L'Anse Amour, Southern Labrador.

Maritime Archaic tradition - Recent Finds
From burial sites, such as that of Port au Choix (4400-3300 BP); notably the largest hunter-gatherer burial site in North America; we have learned much about these ancient peoples... how tall they grew, what they ate, and their age of death. Mysteries surrounding their burial practices, spirituality, and clothing decorations are also uncovered.

Insight into how they lived day to day was lacking...until the long anticipated discovery and excavation of habitation sites, as recently as 1997. Following the recession of the heavy glaciers, the land has experienced a rebounding effect of rising and falling. Thus, beaches and delta areas of thousands of years ago may often exist many meters inland from today?s modern shoreline. Interestingly, archaeologists and geologists have worked together in graphing archaeological data and local sea level history, in determining the locality of these sites. The present day Big Droke site (?droke? - a dense stand of trees) was actually once a beach on a small island when occupied by the Maritime Archaic peoples.

The Big Droke (dated between 4530 and 3470 BP) is possibly one of today?s most important Maritime Archaic sites in Newfoundland. Not only is it an ?undisturbed? habitation/living site, but it is accompanied by the Caines site, a specialty tool production area. Together, the Big Droke and Caines sites have over twelve hearth features.

Evidence shows the Maritime Archaic Indians lived on the island of Newfoundland for about 2000 years; but seem to have disappeared about 3200 BP (Before Present). An absence of Indian people on the island between 3000 and 2000 years ago still remains a puzzling mystery.

Excavation began on the Big Droke site in 1997.

Numerous Maritime Archaic Indian tools, such as these bifaces, have been unearthed at the Bird Cove Project's Caines Site.