Arctic small tool tradition facts for kids

The Arctic Small Tool tradition (ASTt) was a group of early people who lived in the Arctic region. They developed a unique way of life and special tools. These groups were the first humans to live in places like Arctic Canada and Greenland. They lived on land and used very specific small tools.

The ASTt started around 2500 BC in areas like the Alaska Peninsula, Bristol Bay, and near the Bering Strait.

What were their tools like?

The people of the Arctic Small Tool tradition used a special set of small tools. These tools were often made using a method called microblade technology. This means they made tiny, sharp blades from stone.

Their tools included:

• Scrapers: Used for cleaning animal hides.
• Burins: Tools with a sharp, chisel-like edge, used for carving materials like bone or antler.
• Side and end blades: These small blades were often put together to make bigger tools, like arrows or spears.

Many researchers believe that the ASTt people were the first to bring the bow and arrow to the Arctic. This invention later became very important for the Eskimo archery culture.

How did they live?

ASTt camps were often found near coasts and rivers. This allowed them to easily hunt seals or catch salmon. While some groups moved around a lot, more permanent homes have also been found. These homes were often built with sod roofs, meaning they used layers of earth and grass for the roof.

Who were the ASTt groups?

The Arctic Small Tool tradition includes several different cultural groups. These include:

• The Denbigh Flint Complex in Alaska.
• The Pre-Dorset culture in Arctic Canada.
• The Independence I culture in the High Arctic.
• The Saqqaq culture in southern Greenland.

After the ASTt, other cultures developed in these regions. The Norton tradition followed in Alaska, and the Dorset culture followed in Arctic Canada.

Siberian connections

Scientists believe that the Arctic Small Tool tradition might have started in East Siberia about 5,000 years ago.

Pavel Flegontov, a researcher, explains that many early Arctic cultures, like the Denbigh, Norton, and Saqqaq, are part of the ASTt. He suggests that the ASTt came from a series of cultures in East Siberia that existed between 6,500 and 2,800 years ago.

The earliest form of the Norton tradition in Alaska is called the Choris Stage (around 1600–500 BC). The sites from this culture are mostly found along the coast. They have pottery that looks similar to pottery found in Siberia. This culture spread as far as the Mackenzie River Delta and Banks Island.

Studies of DNA also support the idea that these groups had connections to people from Siberia.