Canada Foundation for Innovation
(CFI)

The Centre for Environmental Archaeology and Cultural Systems in Central Labrador is a laboratory-computer facility designed to co-ordinate the research efforts of Dr. Lisa Rankin and her students in their investigation of the prehistory and history of Labrador. This was set up in 2003 with funding from The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), which contributed just over $64,000, and an additional $100,000 in matched funds from Memorial University and other agencies.

Computer 3D rendering of interior and sod walls of an early historic Inuit house at Snack Cove 3. Based on field mapping data.

The Centre comprises several PC and McIntosh computers and peripherals, with hardware and software for: data entry, storage and analysis; spatial and geographical analysis; digitizing maps, photographs and slides; creating, editing and printing graphical data representations; artifact and field photography; and video creation and editing.

A computer-generated 3D model of the southern end of the Porcupine Strand, with exaggerated vertical relief for visual impact. Based on topographic data.

Among the uses to which Dr. Rankin and her students have put this facility are:

The creation of customized catalogue and artifact database programmes.
A project analyzing all the known radiocarbon dates from Archaic and Paleo-Eskimo sites in coastal Labrador.
The creation of interactive 3D computer models of landscapes, and of archaeological structures such as Inuit semi-subterranean houses.
The creation of 2D and 3D maps for locational and distributional analysis.
The creation of customized site databases and site data archives.

Plot of distribution and density of Labrador Archaic and Pre-Dorset sites in the vicinity of Nain, Labrador.