The Maritime Archaic Indians are the Island of Newfoundland's first known inhabitants. They buried their dead in Port au Choix from 4,300 to 3,200 years ago. Their presence has not been found anywhere on the Island of Newfoundland after that time.

The Groswater Paleoeskimos hunted harp seal at Port au Choix from 2,800 to 1,900 years ago.

The Dorset Paleoeskimos hunted harp seal at Port au Choix from 1,900 to 1,300 years ago. There is a theory that the Groswater are actually the ancestors of the Dorset because of the many similarities between the tool types of the two groups.

The Recent Indians are the ancestors of the historic Beothuk. Their arrival at Port au Choix coincides with the tail end of the Dorset occupation 1,400 years ago. It is not known whether these two events had any connection.

The Norse (Vikings) arrived at L'Anse Aux Meadows 1,000 years ago, although, they did not get as far south as Port au Choix. French, English and Spanish (Basque) fishermen fished just off the coast of this area dating back to 1600 A.D.

The abbreviation B.P. (Before Present) is used throughout the site as a form of dating. It is a less common form used primarily by archaeologists. AD 1960 is the year of reference for B.P.; it was in this year that Carbon-dating was introduced.

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