Researching the early Holocene of the Maritime Provinces

Abstract

This thesis features a review of the early Holocene period in Maritime Provinces prehistory. A reexamination of regional collections, paleoenvironmental evidence, and comparative archaeological information from the State of Maine has lead to the development of a new model for early Holocene occupation of this region. The new model replaces the former Great hiatus” model which proposes a 5000-year gap in the cultural sequence (10,000-5000 B.P.). Implications of the model for interpreting regional cultural development, and for future research strategies are also addressed.