Abstract

Since more than 10 years, the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region in Quebec has benefited from a well structured archaeological research programme. Among various discoveries, the notable presence of ceramic remains in a boreal context has been intruiging since the beginning of our researches. In effect, the discovery of this medium in important numbers, associated with other categories of archaeological remains, allows a refinement of the occupational chronology during the Late Prehistoric period of the region, and informs us quite precisely about the cultural affinities and the circulation direction of goods and ideas in the interaction networks. In this presentation, we will examine two phenomenas that we observed among some ceramic collections. It seems that the Algonquians living in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region have, on two occasions, abandonned a ceramic tradition to adopt an other one which most likely came from outside the region. And this happened in a very short period of time. We suggest some working hypothesis to explain those facts.