Abstract

The Quoddy Region has the longest history of archaeological exploration of any part of New Brunswick. However, the prehistory of Deer Island, the largest island in the region, has been investigated only sporadically. This is surprising given the extensive collections of prehistoric artifacts held by avocational archaeologists on Deer Island. The presentation will summarize the history of archaeological investigations on Deer Island and report on a current research project being conducted there. Archaeological investigations at the Deer Island Point site (BfDr-5) were conducted in cooperation with a local avocational archaeologist. This multi-component coastal archaeological site which includes intertidal and terrestrial deposits has yielded artifacts spanning the past 4000 years. In addition to furthering archaeological knowledge of the Quoddy Region, the purpose has been to foster cooperative working relationships among professional and avocational archaeologists, landowners and the public.