ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Archival and archaeological research has improved understanding of the 16th-century European presence in north-eastern North America. Links may now be established between assemblages of European objects uncovered on Amerindian sites in the continent’s interior, providing insights into how the newcomers’ arrival and encounter with Aboriginal people affected local populations. Despite their limitations, the material remains provide an Amerindian-generated viewpoint that, when considered in conjunction with archival evidence, can be related to European narratives. This paper attempts to measure the intensity and scope of early contacts and establish the main events surrounding them.
