Abstract

Archaeological rescarch carried out over the years in Nunavik has resulted in the inventory of a large number of Pre-Dorset sites. Sites of this culture are particularly numerous along sections of the east coast of Hudson Bay and occur in high density in several localities, including Kuujjuaraapik and the Inukjuak-Witch Bay area. The majority are located in boulder fields situated at high altitudes. Pre-Dorset sites known in the Ungava Bay region are more widely dispersed and, for the most, occupy raised gravel beach ridges. This paper reviews and compares the settlement pattern data obtained from these Early Palaeoeskimo sites. Marked contrasts in the physical settings and composition of the Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay sites indicate different patterns of occupation in each region. As well, differences in the lithic tool assemblages recovered from the sites tend to suggest 2 regional variants of the Pre-Dorset culture in Nunavik, both of which appear to have been of different geographical origin.