Archaeological material analysis of FjCa-51, area 11 Sheshatshiu, Labrador

Cameron, Ashley (2022) Archaeological material analysis of FjCa-51, area 11 Sheshatshiu, Labrador. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Excavation at archaeological site FjCa-51 in Sheshatshiu, NL has been ongoing since 2009, at the request of the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation. FjCa-51 is reported to be one of the most significant Intermediate period (3500-1800 BP) archaeological sites in Labrador with fifteen different loci excavated to date. As most of the cultural material of the Intermediate period is lithics, an analysis following a chaîne opératoire approach was completed in order to understand site use, movement and/or trade across the land, and how Area 11 fits into the existing Intermediate period classifications. Residue analysis was completed on five anvil stones in order to discern whether the analysis would provide results regarding the processing of organic materials on site. The results suggest that Area 11 was a short-term habitation site that saw only a single occupation that had both local and non-local stone raw materials suggestive of movement or trade. The artifacts are also a mixture of diagnostically Charles and Brinex complexes, now considered the Saunders phase, so Area 11 has been placed into this phase. Results were obtained from the residue analysis providing evidence for cold season grasses and possible bison processing on site. All of the above analyses are discussed together in order to fully understand how Area 11 of FjCa-51 was utilized.

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