Archaic branches

The Archaic period begins around 9000 years ago in Newfoundland and Labrador with the oldest recognized Archaic site in the province at Pinware Hill in the community of Pinware, radiocarbon dated to 8850+/-100 (SI-2309). Prior to the late 1960s little was known about the Archaic occupation of the province. This drastically changed with the excavation […]

Beothuk world view and religious practices

Seventeenth- and eighteenth-century English observers maintained either that the Beothuk had no religion, or that it “the religion of this people rises but little above such harmless trifling observances.” (Howley 1915:39) Beothuk world view and their religious practices as described by Shanawdithit, however, appears to have constituted a pervasive force in their lives, influencing individual […]

Point dos de Cheval

After John Cabot’s 1497 voyage (and likely before it) the abundant cod stocks off the Province’s shores became well known and attracted several European nations. For centuries after those European fishing fleets crossed the Atlantic annually to engage in the fishery. French fishers were amongst those international fleets coming to the island from at least […]