Avayalik Islands
  Avayalik Islands  Avayalik Islands | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Coordinates | 60°06′37″N 64°13′20″W / 60.1102513°N 64.2223573°W |
| Major islands | 2 |
| Administration | |
| Territory | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
The Avayalik Islands are a group of islands located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.[1] They consist of two main islands, and at least seven smaller landmasses. It was first visited by archaeologists in 1967, when a team led by Patrick Plumet arrived for the first archaeological expedition.[2]
History
[edit]The Avayalik islands were likely settled by the Middle Dorset people in the 5th to 7th centuries AD.[3] Archaeological studies found several structures, including a winter house roughly 3–4 meters on each side, with a 3-4 meter long entrance tunnel, built during the same period.[2]
Avayalik-1 is a Dorset archaeological site on one of the islands. It contains examples of indigenous yarn that were once suspected of having a medieval Norse origin. Dating the yarn at Avayalik-1 established an indigenous technique for spinning cordage from native animals like the Arctic hare and muskox. The yarn, like examples from other Dorset sites, was always used as cordage and never woven into fabric.[4][5][6]
References
[edit]- ^ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Avayalik Islands". www4.rncan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
- ^ a b Jordan, Richard H. (1980). "Preliminary Results from Archaeological Investigations on Avayalik Island, Extreme Northern Labrador". Arctic. 33 (3): 607–627. doi:10.14430/arctic2586. JSTOR 40509064.
- ^ "An Archaeological Assessment of Avayalik-1 | Bowdoin College". www.bowdoin.edu. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
- ^ "An Archaeological Assessment of Avayalik-1". Arctic Museum.
- ^ Park, Robert W. (March 2008). "Contact between the Norse Vikings and the Dorset culture in Arctic Canada". Antiquity. 82 (315): 189–198. doi:10.1017/S0003598X0009654X.
- ^ Hayeur Smith, Michèle; Smith, Kevin P.; Nilsen, Gørill (August 2018). "Dorset, Norse, or Thule? Technological transfers, marine mammal contamination, and AMS dating of spun yarn and textiles from the Eastern Canadian Arctic". Journal of Archaeological Science. 96: 162–174. Bibcode:2018JArSc..96..162H. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2018.06.005.