Fragments of White Bones and Mussel Shells

The fragments of white shells and common mussel shells were found in the dig site where there were vestiges of fires and kitchen scraps. They provide an indication of the habits and diet of the indigenous peoples in the prehistoric era. Archaeologists are able to deduce from these tiny items the months the native peoples were at the mouth of the Metis River because the mussels are only edible in July and August. The fragments confirm written accounts from the early 1800s that mention how the natives used the site during the summers. These nomadic peoples came to the St. Lawrence from the Baie-des-Chaleurs during the summer in order to fish and hunt. But they returned to the warmer and more protected region to the south during the winter months, seeking protection from the harsh winter winds of the St. Lawrence River.