Dorset Pre-Inuit and Beothuk foodways in Newfoundland, ca. AD 500-1829

Abstract

Archaeological research on the Canadian island of Newfoundland increasingly demonstrates that the island's subarctic climate and paucity of terrestrial food resources did not restrict past Pre-Inuit (Dorset) and Native American (Beothuk) hunter-gatherer populations to a single subsistence pattern. This study first sought to characterize hunter-gatherer diets over the past 1500 years; and second, to assess the impact of European colonization on Beothuk lifeways by comparing the bone chemistry of Beothuk skeletal remains before and after the intensification of European settlement in the early 18th century. We employed radiocarbon dating and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis of bulk bone collagen from both Dorset (n = 9) and Beothuk (n = 13) cultures, including a naturally mummified 17th century Beothuk individual. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of 108 faunal samples from Dorset and Beothuk archaeological sites around the island were used as a dietary baseline for the humans. We combined our results with previously published isotope data and radiocarbon dates from Dorset (n = 12) and Beothuk (n = 18) individuals and conducted a palaeodietary analysis using Bayesian modelling, cluster analysis and comparative statistical tests. Dorset diets featured more marine protein than those of the Beothuk, and the diets of Beothuk after the 18th century featured less high trophic level marine protein than those of individuals predating the 18th century. Despite inhabiting the same island, Dorset and Beothuk cultures employed markedly different dietary strategies, consistent with interpretations of other archaeological data. Significantly, European colonization had a profound effect on Beothuk lifeways, as in response to the increasing European presence on the coast, the Beothuk relied more extensively on the limited resources of the island's boreal forests and rivers.

Fig 1. Location of sites mentioned in the text.

1) Peat Garden North; 2) Phillip’s Garden; 3) Crow Head Cave; 4) Eastern Point; 5) Gargamelle Rockshelter; 6) Lane’s Cove/Englee; 7) Parke’ Beach; 8) Port au Port; 9) Pumbley Cove; 10) Red Indian Lake; 11) Indian Point; 12) North Angle; 13) Big Island; 14) Devil’s Cove; 15) Long Island; 16) High Greco Island; 17) Charles Arm; 18) Swan Island; 19) Comfort Island; 20) Cranberry Island; 21) Rogers Cove; 22) Indian Cove; 23) Boyd’s Cove; 24) Western Indian Island; 25) Ladle Point; 26) Fox Bar; 27) Beaches.

Fig 2. Modelled Dorset and Beothuk radiocarbon dates.

Includes previously published dates from Raghavan et al. 2014 and Duggan et al. 2017.

Fig 3. Calibrated Beothuk dates modelled with a date constraint of AD 1829.

The purple shaded bars specify the parameters used to model the radiocarbon dates. Where the skeletal remains were found with modified European artifacts or trade items, the dates were constrained between AD 1500 and 1829. Includes published radiocarbon dates from Duggan et al. 2017.

Fig 4. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of Beothuk individuals.

The samples are separated chronologically by the median radiocarbon date of each sample. Includes published data from Duggan et al. 2017 and Kuch et al. 2007.

Fig 5. A comparison of the stable isotope values of Dorset and Beothuk adults and subadults.

The naturally mummified subadult, NP 240, is indicated by an arrow. Includes published data from Duggan et al. 2017, Raghavan et al. 2014, and Kuch et al. 2007.

Fig 6. Clusters of archaeological fauna used in the SIAR model.

The modern Newfoundland salmon data are from Dixon et al. 2012, and are corrected for the Suess Effect.

Fig 7. Estimated proportions of terrestrial (C1), pelagic (C2) and benthic (C3) food sources (left), and diagnostic matrix plots (right) for each cultural/chronological group.

Model includes published human collagen isotope data from Raghavan et al. 2014, Duggan et al. 2017, and Kuch et al. 2007.