The determination of status at Port au Choix

D'Entremont, Stanley A. (1978) The determination of status at Port au Choix. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Burials have long been regarded as a potential storehouse of data for archaeologists. During the late sixties and continuing into the seventies, much of burial analysis was and still is focused on the determination of the status structure of extinct populations. For the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, however, due to very acidic soil, no suitable sites were available for this type of study. -- In 1967-68, a site with incredibly good bone preservation was excavated at Port au Choix, Newfoundland, by Dr. James A. Tuck of Memorial University in St. John's. This site will be used to investigate the status structure of the Maritime Archaic people who inhabited the area some 4000 years ago. -- A number of methodologies have been developed to deal with burial attributes and artifacts; but it will be argued that the best methodology for the Port au Choix data consists of an analysis of the qualitative as well as the quantitative aspects of the grave goods. -- Beyond the simple description of the differences observable, an attempt will be made to relate these differences to other factors of the sociopolitical sphere. For the Port au Choix cemetery, it will be proposed that there was some form of segmentation within the society, and that this may reflect the existence of three separate "family plots" using the same cemetery. This does not preclude the possibility of the differences being due to other factors such as clan or band member-factors such as clan or band membership. -- Using the Port au Choix site as a test case, the status structure of egalitarian societies in general will be questioned, and answers will be proposed. These will relate to features such as the amount of status differentiation, the basis of these differences (sex, age, achievement, ascription, etc.), and the meaning or function of the artifacts interred with the dead.

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