The Culture History of Kirkland Lake District, Northeastern Ontario

Abstract

<p>In this thesis the culture history of the 5,633 square mile Kirkland Lake District of Northeastern Ontario is examined. Drawing upon archaeological materials amassed during two years of fieldwork involving description and analysis of three major archaeological sites along with supporting evidence from ethnology and ethnohistory, an attempt has been made to delineate a cultural-chronological sequence extending from the historic era back to circa 4500-5000 B.C.</p> <p>To this end, four cultural phases representing three separate cultural traditions are defined. These are the Abitibi Narrows and Mattawan phases of the Shield Archaic Tradition, the Eastern Laurel phase of the Laurel Tradition, and the Duncan Lake phase representing a terminal Woodland Northern Algonquin Tradition.</p> <p>Five basic research problems are initially posed by the author for the area, and all five are answered positively in this thesis. Several, however, clearly require further research in the future. By delineating the various cultural phases and cultural chronology of this district in north eastern Ontario, this thesis has laid the foundation for future archaeological and ethnohistorical work in this previously unknown part of Northern Ontario.</p>