Labrador soapstone utilization

Figure 11, Utilization of soapstone by Eskimos on the central Labrador coast during the Middle Dorset period (200-600AD), The letters in circles (O) are the four quarries from which samples have been analyzed. The letters refer to the letters used in Figure 12 where the characteristic REE patterns are shown. The quarries near O k and Davis Inlet were utilized locally and in the Nain region. In addition material from northern Newfoundland (L) is found in this region as well as many samples for which the quarries have not been identified,...

Use of Rare Earth Element Analysis to Study the Utilization and Procurement of Soapstone Along the Labrador Coast... 

Despite its harsh arctic and subarctic climate, the coast of present-day Labrador has been the home of peoples from several cultural traditions for over 7000 years. Most of the archaeological evidence— the tools and implements left by the prehistoric inhabitants of this area— consists of a variety of lithic (rock) artifacts. The variety of naturally occurring lithic materials utilized indicates that these prehistoric peoples were keen observers of their environment. As in many other parts of the world, the Indian and Eskimo peoples along the Labrador coast found and used the relatively soft, carvable soapstone. Soapstone is a hydrous... 

Allen, R., H. Hamroush, C. Nagle, and W. Fitzhugh. 1984. Use of rare earth element analysis to study the utilization and provenance of soapstone along the Labrador Coast. In Archaeological Chemistry III, J.P. Lambert (ed.), pp. 3-18. Washington, D.C. American Chemical Society. 

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