Hopedale and its surrounding areas were last explored for
archaeological artifacts during 1945 by J.B. Bird.
At this time evidence was
uncovered proving that this site was used by present day Inuit and earlier Eskimos and
Indian populations. The reason for this steady settlement was because of the good
anchorage and landing site of its harbor. It was also shown that the eastern side of the
promontory is preferred by Hopedale inhabitants. All of the forty four pit house sites
investigated by Bird in the Hopedale area were located on the inner islands of Agvituk Bay
or on the mainland coast.
About 50 house sites from
Hopedale to Killinek have been identified by Archaeologists. They are primarily coastal,
semi-subterranean winter sod houses and spring to fall axial houses belonging to the
Early, Middle and Late Dorset Eskimo. At Hopedale itself, sod houses of the Labrador Inuit
and a large site with a structure belonging to the Point Revenge Indians have been
identified.
Some artifacts uncovered by
Bird in 1945 can be viewed at the Mission House Museum in Hopedale.
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