Maritime Archaic Subsistence in Newfoundland, Canada: Insights from δ13C and δ15N of Bulk Bone Collagen and Amino Acids

Summary

Port au Choix-3 (4800-3600 B.P.) is a large Maritime Archaic mortuary site in northwestern Newfoundland. Since the 1940s, archaeological excavations have yielded thousands of artifacts and the skeletal remains of over 100 individuals. This site has been instrumental for defining the Maritime Archaic tradition, and for understanding human-environment interactions during the Archaic occupation of Newfoundland and Labrador. As such, it is currently the focus of a multi-isotope and ancient DNA project exploring the lifeways and biocultural relationships of the Maritime Archaic people. This paper presents the results of our investigation into diet and resource use through stable isotope analysis of bulk bone collagen and collagen amino acids. Our analyses have revealed considerable isotopic variation within the sample, indicating the presence of several distinct dietary patterns. While the variation may in part be attributed to sex-based dietary differences, it also indicates that Maritime Archaic subsistence in Newfoundland can no longer be generalized as a single adaptation. We will examine the results in relation to site distribution data, and in light of recent interpretations of Maritime Archaic social organization and settlement patterns in Newfoundland and the Strait of Belle Isle region.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Arctic and Subarctic Coasts: Current Research and Modern Challenges

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16818