Revisiting Facts and Ideas of Contact in the St. Lawrence Basin during the 16th Century

The word ‘contact’ is often written but rarely defined. What do authors mean when they refer to ‘intercultural contact’ or ‘the contact period’? Is contact an operative concept in archaeology? If so, what is its sphere of meaning? Does it connote a specific time, place, group or culture, and what are the facts to understand the mechanics of contact? In its projection onto the pre-colonial period, is it a reflection of postcolonial thought, ideals and practices? Many contexts across North America enrich the idea of contact, but in the St. Lawrence basin, the 16th century remains an enigmatic example. This session will revisit ideas and facts of early contact with special reference to the St. Lawrence basin, from the lower Great Lakes to the Atlantic.