This group of people hunted caribou on the northern tundra. They likely spent some time in the northern forests and tundra of Saskatchewan.
| Dates: | 6000 to 3500 yr BP |
| Lithics: | Projectile points were side-notched and similar to the Mummy Cave complex projectile points in Southern Saskatchewan. |
| Technology: | The introduction of side-notched points is due to a change in hafting techniques. The earlier spears were replaced with darts that were propelled by atlatls, a much more efficient projectile thrower. Their subsistence economy was based on barren-ground caribou. |
| Distribution: | The tundra of northern Saskatchewan |
| Sites: | Although this tradition is known in Nunavuit, no certain sites have yet been found in Saskatchewan. However, it is expected that Shield Archaic peoples hunted on the tundra of northern Saskatchewan. |
| Environment: | The Shield Arctic tradition began at the end of the Atlantic Period (8450 to 4680 yr BP). The warmer climate had begun to cool and led into the Sub-Boreal Period (4680 to 2890 yr BP). The Sub-Boreal is characterized by increasingly severe winters. |
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