Maritime consumption on Newfoundland's Petit Nord: material expressions of identity on the Champ Paya fishing station

Abstract

Excavations at the Champ Paya fishing station (EfAx-09) on Newfoundland’s Historical French Shore have revealed many insights about the seasonal cod fishery in the New World. Maps of the area, made by French naval chart-maker Georges Cloué (1850s) indicated that there had been a number of fishing stages in Crouse Harbour, and Champ Paya has proven to be a rich source of early maritime material culture. The personal consumer goods recovered from the site have not, as yet, been thoroughly documented and analyzed. I will explore the ways in which the material culture may have helped to reinforce aspects of social identity and power for Champ Paya’s seasonal occupants by analysing the small finds collected from the site in the context of the fishing room as a socially stratified consumption site. Historical, cartographic and archaeological evidence indicates that the Champ Paya fishing station, located on Newfoundland’s historical French Shore, was utilized since 1504. Excavations at Champ Paya (EfAx-09) have revealed many insights about the seasonal cod fishery in the New World and the daily lives of those involved in it. Utilizing the early maritime material culture recovered from the site, in particular the personal consumer goods, this thesis explores the interpretative value of ‘small finds’ and their importance in reinforcing social identity and status hierarchy among the seasonal residents at Champ Paya.