GEOG 301 Chapter Notes - Chapter 09/15: Northern Canada, Birnirk Culture, Harpoon
21 Nov 2015
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Document Summary
Central can inuit nations are biologically/linguistically similar to maritime can/alaska nations, but lack many of their tech/econ adaptations. Early theories say inuit split outward from central can. 1921-24 first thule exhibition provided new insights. Thule originated in northern alaska, spread east as far as greenland. Came from birnirk people--north alaska coast btwn 500-900 ad, sea-mammal hunters (but did not hunt whales) Until 1000 ad, dorset people lived in central/eastern canada, but their culture was. Thule expanded/migrated rapidly, likely due to warming climate that made whale-hunting supplanted by the thule easier. Can track thule migration by tracing pattern of their harpoon heads. Migration took route thru canadian high arctic. Were able to maintain whale-hunting way of life while traveling. Adaptations to west coast include smaller winter settlements. Reflect that whaling was now done on open sea, not in shore leads. Whales were not concentrated in a few key areas. Would typically only catch 1 at a time.
