Entre-Deux-Lacs Research Paper

The area of Entre-Deux-Lacs is divided naturally into the Northern coniferous forest and the Southern agricultural area. The division occurred as a consequence of glacial movement that displaced the fertile topsoil of the North and deposited it to the South. The first inhabitants were hunter-gatherers located in the northern coniferous forests; first known to be present in 1520 B.C.E. The second inhabitants of the area appear in the South roughly 1190 C.E. These migratory peoples brought with them new technologies and minimal agricultural practices. The interactions between the peoples of the North and South paint a picture of Entre-Deux-Lacs pre-history as a result of the environment. Peoples of Site 3 (located north of Lake Nakawa) existed in occupations ranging from 1520 B.C. E. to post-1700s. They began as simple hunter-gatherers who subsisted on nuts, fish and deer. During these early occupations (1520- 1410 B.C.E.) tools included flaked pre-Cambrian metamorphic rock axes; indicating their relative primitive lifestyle. Although tools became more complex during the second occupation, real
complexities, such as trade, began appearing in occupation three (270- 1240 C.E.). With the appearance of peoples in southern sites, trade can be inferred due to the presence in identical stone pipes found in all areas including Site 3. This is supported by further data including the use of tobacco in the North; grown only in the South. Therefore, it can be assumed that the peoples of each area had positive relationships; however, by the 1300s signs of conflict arose, possibly due to the rising economy of the south. Palisades can be dated to the 1300s; which acted as blockades during conflicts. It can be theorized that as the agricultural society of the South (Sites 1 and 4) increased in population, technology, and territory they became less dependent on trade with the Northern peoples, this incited hostility in the Northerners towards the Southerners. Evidence from the Archaeological record shows that the Site 1 village was burned to the ground in 1410 C.E. which was rebuilt with signs of a smaller population. It can be hypothesized that the peoples of the North attacked the village and committed the arson; which may had ended all accounts of trade. The pottery décor also changed from the locally unique punctate to shell-tempered and ground stone axes which had been made from the pre-Cambrian rock from the North were now made of local chert. More evidence supporting the broken relationship extended into the 1600s when missionaries pushing for Northern furs were told, by the Southern peoples, that they could only be obtained through warfare. The visiting Europeans also claimed to find a peaceful village during the midst of warfare.
This village, Site 2 was, however, was defended by flimsy stockades. The appearance of the stockades could imply that the villagers were peaceful to these Europeans, but could have been hostile towards neighboring tribes. This particular area had both Southern pottery and Northern axes. This suggests that either this group was an extension of the other tribes or another culture trapped between. If the extension hypothesis proves correct, then people of either or both tribes migrated to the central location of the Entre-Deux-Lacs and established their own village. This would account for the Northern and Southern artifacts found in the area. Yet, if the village was formed by an outside tribe, then artifacts similar to the North and South could be attributed to trade or
theft. Of the two European reports, one from explorers and one from French missionaries, one finds the natives to be peaceful and the other finds them hostile. The difference in opinions may not have been completely due to the reports’ different dates (only 11 years apart), but rather the different roles of the Europeans reporting. Earlier European explorers were greeted more positively than the residential missionaries. The difference between interactions can be attributed to the temporariness of explorers and the increased frustration with semi-permanent, invading missionaries. The environment of Entre-Deux-Lacs determines the adaptations of its inhabitants. Each tribe was able to gain their power from the resources available in their environment. The Northern tribe was able to gain power through fur trade. However, the Southern tribes’ ability to succeed in agriculture allowed them to become more self-sufficient and eventually more of a target for neighboring tribes.