Port au Choix is an important archaeological site in Newfoundland pertaining to the Subarctic tradition of North America.
Two main archaeological complexes have been found at Port au Choix, one is a permanent village pertaining to the Dorset culture, dating between 200 and 600 AD, the second site is a large cemetery, related to the Maritime Archaic Tradition (ca 5000 - 1000 BC), dating around 2000 and 1200 BC.
The Cemetery at Port au Choix
The ancient cemetery at Port au Choix was first excavated at the end of the 1960s and few years later the site became a Canadian National Historic Site. Several burials, with rich grave goods and a total of 117 skeletons were located. Only in the 1990s the related village was located (Gould site) not far from the cemetery and many artifacts, such as harpoons, tools, ornaments were recorded. Many postholes, some of them still with wooden poles in place were also recovered.
Research by archaeologists Priscilla Renouf and Trevor Bell showed that the cemetery was on an island, separated by the mainland by water. The relative village (the Gould site), instead, was located on the mainland in front of the cemetery. Sea level studies demonstrated that only after 1000 BC Port au Choix was connected to the mainland. Now the site is about 500m inland from the shoreline.
Port au Choix Cultural Development
Port au Choix was first occupied by Maritime Archaic populations whose subsistence relied on coastal resources like fishing and hunting marine mammals. Later on, the site was occupied by groups who shared the pre-Dorset and Dorset cultures.
Port au Choix Findings
Important findings recovered in the cemetery and in the habitational units at Port au Choix include: bone harpoons and other projectile points, bone combs decorated with engravings of animals, and bone amulets. Many different animal bones have been found, and archaeologists suggest that these were not only preys, but probably had some sort of religious significance. Among the most commonly found we can include: different species of gull, duck, bald eagle, snowy owl, seal, killer whale, walrus, cod, poalr bear, black bear, wolf and caribou.
The site of Port au Choix represents one of the best example of the Archaic culture in Subarctic North America.
Sources
This glossary entry is a part of the About.com Guide to North American Archaeology, the Guide to the Subarctic, and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Bell, Trevor and Priscilla A.M. Renouf, 2004, Prehistoric Cultures, Reconstructed Coasts: Maritime Archaic Indian site distribution in Newfoundland, World Archaeology, 35, 3: 350 - 370