A Meadowood Mortuary Site in the Quebec City Area

Conference Paper

A Meadowood Mortuary Site in the Quebec City Area

Yves Chrétien

Abstract

The Lambert Site is located on the periphery of the principle area of distribution of Meadowood. sites. It presents several characteristics which suggest that its occupants were full participants in the Meadowood cultural sphere. A substantial concentration of cache blades in Onondaga chert (approximately 180) were discovered in association with a cremation burial. This feature is typical of Meadowood funerary ritual. Other Meadowood artifacts, such as side-notched projectile points, bifacial triangular scrapers, Vinette 1 pottery and a steatite vase were also found during excavations. A radiocarbon date of 950 BC ±60 (non calibrated) was obtained from a hearth. This early Meadowood presence outside of the principal distribution area for this culture permis us to formulate some hypotheses regarding the expansion of Meadowood culture in the Saint Lawrence Valley.