The prehistory of the southwest coast of Newfoundland

Penney, Gerald (1984) The prehistory of the southwest coast of Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (31MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

This study represents three (1979-81) field seasons of archaeological survey and excavation on the southwest coast of Newfoundland. Prior to this research our understanding of its prehistory was limited. Survey results suggest that this submerging coast was thinly populated throughout most of the prehistoric period. -- Excavation at the multi-component L'Anse a Flamme site revealed distinctive and previously unrecognized Recent Indian lithic assemblages. Four other southwest coast sites were found to contain similar assemblages which are herein proposed as the Little Passage Complex. The complex may represent either Indian cultural florescence and coastal re-occupation or new migrants following Dorset demise. Its relationship to the historically known Beothuck remains unclear, however, radiocarbon age determinations from Little Passage sites elsewhere on the Island, place it late in the prehistoric period.

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