Groswater culture facts for kids
The Groswater Culture was a group of ancient people who lived in Newfoundland and Labrador. They were part of the Paleo-Eskimo cultures, which means "ancient Eskimo" or "ancient Inuit" people. The Groswater Culture existed from about 800 BC to 200 BC. These people originally came from the Arctic and moved south. They arrived after another group, the Maritime Archaic people, became less common. This might have happened because of a cold period around 900 BC. The culture is named after Groswater Bay, a bay in central Labrador.
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Life of the Groswater People
Archaeologists have found many clues about how the Groswater people lived. Their sites were often located on points of land that stuck out into the sea. This was a good spot for hunting sea animals.
What Did They Eat?
The Groswater people mostly hunted sea mammals. They especially relied on the Harp seal. They also hunted sea birds, small animals, and Caribou. This shows they were skilled hunters who knew how to find food in their environment.
Their Amazing Tools
The Groswater people were very good at making tools. They created small, finely chipped tools from stone and bone. They often used a type of rock called chert. This rock was also used by other ancient Arctic peoples in the North Atlantic. Many of their tools came from rock beds found in Cow Head, Newfoundland. Their tools were perfect for hunting sea mammals.
Why Did They Disappear?
It is not fully clear why the Groswater Culture ended. Historians have some ideas, though. Changes in the climate might have made it harder to find marine animals. Another idea is that they were slowly replaced by another group called the Dorset culture.
Images for kids
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A map showing where the Groswater Proto-Inuit culture lived across Newfoundland and Labrador.
