New Insights from the Dorset Type Site at Alarniq, Northern Foxe Basin, Arctic Canada: Beach Level Chronology and Site Use

Abstract

In 2008, four decades since Meldgaard's work at Alarniq—the type site for Dorset culture—Savelle and Dyke returned to resurvey the site. Archaeological investigations continued in 2015 and 2017 as part of the Foxe Basin Archaeological Project, when Howse conducted further surveys, excavated six semi-subterranean dwellings and two associated middens, and tested five additional features. The new site map and radiocarbon sequence have significantly changed our understanding of site use and beach-level chronology at Alarniq. The number of dwellings varies across the beach ridges, suggesting populations fluctuated throughout the site's use (2,700–800 cal BP). However, the new radiocarbon analyses also indicate that dwellings between 14.5 and 21.5 m above sea level are the same general age and that paleodemography at Alarniq is less straightforward than suggested by the number of features per beach ridge. It appears that ideal house construction location is a stronger indicator of the placement of winter houses at the site than proximity to the shoreline. We suggest this is largely related to site seasonality. These new data have significant implications for our understanding of current Dorset artifact typologies that have largely been developed using the material Meldgaard recovered at the site.

Predicting sample success for large‐scale ancient DNA studies on marine mammals

“…Importantly, many of the Arctic zooarchaeological finds included in this study are surface finds or from comparatively shallow excavations (profile <15–25 cm)(e.g. Pre‐Dorset and Dorset deposite of Foxe Basin; Howse et al, 2019). Depth of archaeological profile has previously been documented as affecting amplification success of mitochondrial DNA (Bollongino et al, 2008), and shallow profiles are likely to lead to greater surface exposure and reduced microclimatic buffering as compared with much deeper profiles (Campos et al, 2012; Kendall et al, 2017; Todisco & Monchot, 2008).…”

Paleogeography of Human Settlement at Iqaluktuuq, Victoria Island, Nunavut

“…The practice of using raised beaches as a relative dating method continues [35,36]. However, assuming a correlation between relative sea level and the age of an archaeological site can be misleading [37,38]. Sea level changes are credited with variations in resource availability [39][40][41] (McGhee p. 91, Schledermann p. 12) and polynya development [42].…”