Shield Archaic

Shield Archaic appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Canada and the Subarctic (North America) from c. 3200 to 500 BCE, a span of more than 2,700 years. Its people spoke Unknown or undeciphered languages (Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages).

Caribou and fish hunters of the boreal forest of the Canadian Shield, from Keewatin to Labrador. They moved by canoe along lakes and rivers and left few traces beyond stone tools.

See Shield Archaic on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 3200 to 500 BCE
Duration: more than 2,700 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Canada and the Subarctic, North America
Language family: Unknown or undeciphered

Events in North America during its time

2500 BCE Paleo-Eskimos settle the eastern Arctic
2100 BCE Maize reaches the Southwest
1600 BCE Poverty Point earthworks built

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Minoan civilization c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, Europe
Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
Shang dynasty c. 1600 to 1046 BCE, East Asia
Old Kingdom of Egypt c. 2686 to 2181 BCE, North and West Africa
Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
New Kingdom of Egypt c. 1550 to 1069 BCE, North and West Africa
Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE, Middle East
Old Babylonian Empire 1894 to 1595 BCE, Middle East
Hittite Empire (New Kingdom) c. 1400 to 1180 BCE, Middle East

Questions

When did Shield Archaic exist?

c. 3200 to 500 BCE, about more than 2,700 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Shield Archaic?

Canada and the Subarctic, in North America.

What language did Shield Archaic speak?

Unknown or undeciphered. This family includes Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages.