Paleoethnobotanical Contributions to 18th-Century Inuit Economy: An Example from Uivak, Labrador

Zutter, Cynthia

doi:10.3721/037.002.s105

Cited by 17 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Complementary samples of a similar volume were retrieved in 10 cm increments from a column section in the House 7 midden. An interesting sample, shaped like a human coprolite, was also recovered from under the sleeping platform (Zutter 2009;Zutter and Pigford 2007). Samples were collected from a variety of archaeological contexts (midden, sleeping platform, entranceway, and floor) to aid in reconstructing the full suite of past human behaviours within the house itself.…”

Section: Research Area and Sample Provenancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the scarcity of archaeobotanical studies, recent evidence suggests that plants may have played a significant role in the lives of Inuit across the circumpolar region (Earley and Zutter 2012;Guiry et al 2010;Hartery 2006;Lepofsky et al 2001;Pigford and Zutter 2010;Zutter and Pigford 2007;Zutter 2009). This article compares new archaeobotanical data from the Oakes Bay I site, in the Nain region of Labrador, with the results of previous work at Uivak I (Zutter 2009), with particular attention paid to woody plants in these data sets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study of prehistoric plant use by northern peoples is less well known and rarely included in Arctic archaeological research (Lepofsky et al 2001;Zutter 2009). Despite the scarcity of archaeobotanical studies, recent evidence suggests that plants may have played a significant role in the lives of Inuit across the circumpolar region (Earley and Zutter 2012;Guiry et al 2010;Hartery 2006;Lepofsky et al 2001;Pigford and Zutter 2010;Zutter and Pigford 2007;Zutter 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The shrubs in the forest: The use of woody species by 18th-century Labrador Inuit

Zutter

2013

etudinuit

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite low productivity rates and sparse tree cover in the circumpolar region, the Inuit identify woody plants and their products as important parts of their diet that provide essential nutrients and medicine. However, evidence of historic and prehistoric Inuit plant use is less well known. This article presents archaeobotanical research from two 18th-century Inuit sites in Northern Labrador. At both sites, abundant botanical remains were recovered, suggesting woody plants were consumed as food, used as medicines, and modified for many valuable purposes. These results are consistent with Inuit ethnobotanical studies, suggesting that woody plants contribute important elements to the Inuit economy today and have done so in the recent past.Malgré un faible taux de productivité et une couverture végétale éparse dans la région circumpolaire, les Inuit considèrent les plantes forestières et leurs produits comme des parties importantes de leur alimentation, car elles leur fournissent des nutriments essentiels et des produits médicinaux. Cependant, on connaît moins la manière dont les Inuit des époques historiques et préhistoriques utilisaient les végétaux. Cet article présente une recherche archéobotanique portant sur deux sites inuit du XVIIIe siècle au nord du Labrador. Dans les deux sites, des restes végétaux ont été retrouvés en grande quantité, ce qui suggère que les plantes forestières étaient utilisées comme nourriture, pour usage médical, ou qu’elles étaient modifiées en vue de nombreux usages. Ces résultats corroborent les études ethnobotaniques chez les Inuit, indiquant que les plantes forestières apportent d’importants éléments à l’économie des Inuit et qu’elles le faisaient aussi dans le passé récent

show abstract

Section: Research Area and Sample Provenancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The shrubs in the forest: The use of woody species by 18th-century Labrador Inuit

Zutter

2013

etudinuit

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This research question is being addressed by archaeological research at the Inuit winter settlement sites of Uivak Point 1 in the Okak region and Oakes Bay 1 on Dog Island (Kaplan and Woollett 2000;Kaplan 2009aKaplan , 2009bZutter 2009) (Figure 1). Uivak Point 1 (HjCl-09) is on a windswept tundra-covered cape at the northern edge of Okak Bay (Kaplan 2009a: 120).…”

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among them, the Inuit and their predecessors have arguably shaped these environments by occupying the land and by harvesting its resources. Even though they have typically oriented their subsistence and settlement toward exploiting the resources of the sea, those of the land (both plant and animal) have also played key roles (Alix 2004(Alix , 2005Alix and Brewster 2004;Kaplan 2009aKaplan , 2009bNuttall 2005;Zutter 2009). Wood has had particular importance across the circumpolar world, being used for fuel, home building, and other purposes in all manner of daily subsistence and social activities (Alix 2004(Alix : 112, 2005Arnold 1994: 277).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Napâttuit: Wood use by Labrador Inuit and its impact on the forest landscape

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tous droits réservés © La revue Études/Inuit/Studies, 2012Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d'auteur. L'utilisation des services d'Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d'utilisation que vous pouvez consulter en ligne.https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ Cet article est diffusé et préservé par Érudit.Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l'Université de Montréal, l'Université Laval et l'Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. Au Nunatsiavut, des études récentes ont montré que des changements majeurs affectent les écosystèmes de toundra forestière depuis plus de deux siècles, notamment au niveau de l'abondance et de la répartition des espèces arborescentes. Bien que ces changements puissent être attribués aux conditions climatiques variables de cette période, il faut aussi considérer les facteurs anthropiques, comme la récolte de bois, lors de l'étude écologique de la dynamique forestière. Cet article, basé sur une revue de littérature, des entrevues et des observations de terrain, documente les interactions entre les résidents de Nain (Nunatsiavut) et le paysage forestier depuis la fin du XVIII e siècle. Nain est l'une des rares communautés inuit situées au sud de la limite des arbres et les relations qu'entretiennent ses habitants avec le paysage forestier apparaissent ambivalentes et changeantes. Ainsi, même si la forêt a dû tout d'abord être perçue comme potentiellement dangereuse, elle a graduellement été intégrée aux modes d'utilisation du territoire et a même contribué à modeler certains aspects de la culture des Inuit du Labrador. Bien que continue, l'utilisation des ressources ligneuses par les résidents de Nain n'est pas homogène dans le temps. La coupe et la récolte ont changé avec le contexte socio-économique et ont laissé une empreinte sur le couvert forestier de la région, ce dont témoignent l'abondance de souches coupées et la rareté d'arbres morts naturellement.Abstract: Napâttuit: Wood use by Labrador Inuit and its impact on the forest landscape In Nunatsiavut, recent studies have shown that major changes to forest tundra ecosystems have occurred over the past two centuries, including a shift in the abundance and range of tree/shrub species. Although this trend could be due to the highly variable climate of this period, we should also consider anthropogenic factors, such as wood harvesting, when conducting ecological studies of forest dynamics. Based on a literature review, interviews, and field observations, this article documents the interactions between residents of Nain (Nunatsiavut) and the forest landscape since the late 18th century. Nain is one of the few Inuit communities south of the tree line, and its inhabitants seem to have had an ambivalent and changing relationship with their forest landscape. Thus, though probably perceived initially as potentially dangerous, the

show abstract

Micromorphological Analyses of Inuit Communal Sod Houses in Northern Labrador, Canada

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As part of ongoing multidisciplinary research at Uivak Point (HjCl‐09) and Oakes Bay 1 (HeCg‐8) in Labrador, Canada, undisturbed soil samples were collected in order to document archaeological sediments and examine anthropogenic processes within Inuit sod houses through soil micromorphology. These structures consist of multifamily winter dwellings used in Labrador and Greenland, which have been variously associated with Inuit social changes following contact with Europeans and environmental conditions prevailing during the “Little Ice Age.” Analyses of thin sections revealed anthropogenic features that can be associated with specific activities that are also documented independently through archaeological, anthropological, and historical sources. While sleeping platforms were characterized by low frequencies of wood and burnt organic matter, adjacent floor areas had moderate accumulations of a variety of anthropogenic features. The entrance tunnel area collected dense deposits of various kinds of detritus that showed evidence of trampling. Nevertheless, dedicated activity areas could not be documented with precision because of the small number of samples and the unexpected impact of household cleaning events.

show abstract

Paleoethnobotanical Contributions to 18th-Century Inuit Economy: An Example from Uivak, Labrador

Cited by 17 publications

References 6 publications

The shrubs in the forest: The use of woody species by 18th-century Labrador Inuit

The shrubs in the forest: The use of woody species by 18th-century Labrador Inuit

Napâttuit: Wood use by Labrador Inuit and its impact on the forest landscape

Micromorphological Analyses of Inuit Communal Sod Houses in Northern Labrador, Canada

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About