CI[)l1:721 - Memorial University of Newfoundland DAI

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CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSIONS
As mentioned in Chapter 2. there are several problems inherent in
archaeology in the Maine-Maritimes region (I.e. the history of research and poor
preservation). Consequently, many of the following conclusions have bee:-.
augmented by dala from previous research. Many ofthese, too, are speculative
in nature and should be considered as hypulheses for future testing, rather
than derinile statements on the culture history of the Maine-Maritimes region.
The following will examine the Tobique Complex and the potential sig­
nificance and implications of trait continuity from the Late and Terminal Archaic
Periods into the Early Ceramic Period. Continuity wiU be descnbed in terms of
the ·SOUfce tradition" for each trait. The cultural implications will be disOJssed
and some comments win be offered regarding the transition between the Archaic
and ceramic Periods in the region.
The Tobigue Complex
The Tobique Complex, represented by Group 4 stemmed bifaces remains
an enigma. There are few traits suggesting affiliation with a:1y other tool
tradition, other than Wright's (1972) weakly defined Shield Archaic: Tradition.
This affiliation is only evident in frequencies of functional categories for lithic
lools. There is an immense amount ot stylistic devialion in tool morphology