The story of habitation in Nova Scotia extends over 11,000 years and is known from oral and written history. It is also known from physical evidence of human activity in the landscape: buildings, roads, managed land, etc. In order to interpret the landscapes of today, we need to understand the history of human settlement and land use.

Distinct periods of history have been dominated by specific cultures that have interacted with the land in individual ways. This topic identifies the main periods during which human interaction with the landscape has changed significantly. It provides the temporal framework for the subsequent topics, which discuss the evolution of the use of resources in Nova Scotia.

This Document Includes:

11,000 - 10,000 BP: Paleo-Indians
10,000 - 5,000 BP: The Great Hiatus
5,000 - 3,500 BP: The Archaic Period
2,500 - 500 BP: The Ceramic Period
500 - 100 BP: The Contact Period
1605 - 1755 : The Acadian Period
1749 - : The British Period
The Twentieth Century

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Additional Keywords:
Debert, stone tools, Susquehanna Tradition, Norse, Mi'kmaq, Europeans, alien diseases, industrial era, rural communities, urban centres, coastal communities, transportation routes, Portuguese, Basque, Scots, Irish John Cabot, cod fishery, fur trade, Acadians, Loyalists, lumber

Associated Topics

T3.3 Glaciation, Deglaciation and Sea-level Changes
T4 Colonization
T12.2 Cultural Landscapes
T12.3 Geology and Resources
T12.4 Glacial Deposits and Resources
T12.5 Climate and Resources
T12.6 The Ocean and Resources
T12.7 The Coast and Resources
T12.8 Fresh Water and Resources
T12.9 Soil and Resources
T12.10 Plants and Resources
T12.11 Animals and Resources
T12.12 Recreational Resources

Associated Habitats

H5.2 Oldfield