Abstract

Twenty years ago the combined archaeological assemblages of Haida Gwaii were remarkable for a unique negative trait: a near absence of chipped stone bifaces. Unlike the BC Mainland, and the rest of the Americas for that matter, this still holds true for the post-8,000 BP archaeological record. Recent work across Haida Gwaii shows that prior to 8,000 BP chipped stone projectile points are common. Here we present a brief description of a projectile point chronology for Haida Gwaii that includes ca. 10,600 BP basally ground leaf shaped points; 10,000 to 8,500 BP teardrop shaped bipoints and lanceolate points; 8,000 to 5,000 BP microblade armed composite points and post-5000 BP bone and wooden points.