Illuminating Inuit life at Double Mer Point: the excavation of an 18th-century communal winter house

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the excavation of an 18th-century Inuit winter sod house located at Double Mer Point (GbBo-2) in Hamilton Inlet, Labrador. Hamilton Inlet has long been considered a vital region for understanding the Labrador Inuit and their relationships with Europeans in the 18th century, yet archaeological investigation has been limited. Merchants from Quebec established trading posts in Hamilton Inlet in the 18th century, providing a regular local source of goods for Inuit living in the region. As operations grew at these posts, more Europeans came to work and settle in the area, creating a unique interaction sphere with great potential for economic benefit to both parties, as well as very real challenges. The complete excavation of a small communal house in a larger settlement and examination of the material culture within provides an opportunity to examine the role of communal houses in this time of dramatic change.