These four artifacts were found buried with the child's skeleton at L'Anse- Amour. At the left is a flute made from the wing bone of a large bird. At the right is a large knife or spear point chipped from a type of quartz not found in southern Labrador. In the centre at the bottom is a pestle made of antler that was used for grinding red ochre and graphite to make a metallic red paint. Above it is a toggling harpoon. The harpoon point was attached to a skin line so it twisted, or toggled, in the wound to hold the harpooned seal or walrus firmly until it could be drawn close to a boat and killed. (See slide 11 for a further explanation of the toggling harpoon.)
These artifacts are proof that by 7,500 years ago the Maritime Archaic people had made sophisticated technological adjustments to the southern Labrador environment and had developed an intellectual culture that included music, decorative arts, and a ceremonial life that may always elude our understanding.
