These points clearly illustrate the beautifully controlled stone chipping that is characteristic of Plano culture. All of these points were recovered from islands in Lake St. Francis on the upper St. Lawrence River. Such specimens have not been dated in the east but it is estimated that they are at least 8,000 years old and probably older. At this early time period the St. Lawrence Valley, between approximately its juncture with the Ottawa River and Quebec City, consisted of a large body of fresh water called Lampsilis Lake. Further upstream, where the illustrated points were recovered, the water levels would have been similar to those of today. Looking for such sites below the juncture of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers, however, would be useless along the present banks since this land was submerged beneath the surface of the ancient lake. Instead, the elevated beach lines of Lampsilis Lake would have to be examined. The foregoing is an illustration of why the archaeologist must work closely with the geologist when he is searching for evidence of early man.
Courtesy: National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada
