Abstract

The soapstone quarry in Fleur de Lys, Newfoundland has been the subject of archaeological interest for almost a century. While initially believed to be Beothuk in origin, Diamond Jenness suggested in his synthesis 'The Indians of Canada' (1932), that the numerous carvings along the exposed soapstone outcrops might be attributable to his newly discovered Cape Dorset culture. Although many researchers have commented upon the significance of the quarry, little archaeological evidence had ever been cited to support claims concerning the nature, use and importance of this site until the 1980s. Despite the lack of any major excavation, the quarry's significance went unquestioned throughout most of this time due to the fact that it was the only known Dorset soapstone quarry of its kind. A full scale excavation in 1997/98 and ongoing analyses have: (1) shown that the extent and complexity of the quarry deposits exceed all previous descriptions; (2) defined the Dorset quarrying tool kit by way of a four stage reduction model; and (3) demonstrated that soapstone vessels were finished at the quarry site. This research also has implications for defining a north eastern variant of Dorset culture on the island of Newfoundland.