The Archaic Period(c. 9000-2500 years ago)
Maritime Archaic (5000-3500 years ago)As the long climatic improvement that followed the Ice Age reached its peak, the region became covered by mixed forest . The major regional culture during this period is known as the Maritime Archaic tradition. Key evidence has come from sites along the Atlantic coast, from New England to Labrador.Food varied according to the season. Fish and sea mammals were caught on the coast, while rivers also provided fish and access to game such as deer, moose, caribou and beaver. Evidence washed awaySea levels continued to rise. Sites that were on the coast 5000 to 3500 years ago have probably long since been washed away. Only a very few finds of this age have been made along the coast. Finds have been made along the main rivers, but no intact site has yet been properly excavated. As in the previous period, only stone tools have survived.Throughout the region many of the distinctive artifact forms associated with this period seem to have disappeared about 3500 years ago. We presume the distinctive way of life associated with them also disappeared. A distinctive feature of this period were large woodworking tools made by grinding hard igneous types of rock. 3500 - 2500 years ago: New ideas and peopleWe have only a few tantalizing clues as to what happened in Nova Scotia during this period as the Susquehanna Tradition of the Mid-Atlantic region spread north along the east coast. Susquehanna influences extended into southwestern New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia, where finds are quite widespread.
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Archaeological data on the first half of this period is not well known in Nova Scotia, although archaeological finds from other parts of Atlantic Canada and New England indicate that people were in the region. This was a period of dramatic geographic, climatic and vegetation change. Land submergence and erosion due to a dramatic rise in sea levels between 9000 and 5000 years ago probably accounts for the loss of many sites. Submerged tree stumps in the Bay of Fundy (photo on right) attest to sea level change.
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