Paleocarpentry in the Eastern Arctic: an Inferential Exploration of Saqqaq Kayak Construction

Abstract

Because wooden artifacts are rarely preserved in ‘stone age’ archaeological contexts, it is difficult to study the actual techniques through which lithic tools were used in a complementary fashion to manipulate the natural properties of wood. Saqqaq culture (~4400-3300 BP), from West Greenland, provides an example where complex skin-on-frame kayaks were built using stone tool kits. This article will inferentially explore Saqqaq paleocarpentry by outlining the skills that are requisite to building kayaks. Though Saqqaq tools are only discussed briefly, it can be inferred that many of them would have been used in suites to achieve specific carpentry goals.