Researchers since the 1940s have noted striking similarities between stone gouges in the Gulf of Maine & Baltic/Scandinavia 🪨 Same green volcanic metatuff stone, same bone comb decorations, same bird-head designs. Coincidence or ancient maritime contact?
Key facts:
- Gouges are ground stone woodworking tools found along coastlines and rivers, particularly in Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy
- Gouges used for hunting and making dugout canoes thousands of years ago
- Material culture similarities between eastern North America and Baltic/Scandinavian regions documented since 1940s by Norwegian archaeologist Gustav M. Jesch
- Bone combs with line and dot decorations and bird heads found in both regions
- Green volcanic metatuff stone used for gouges in both Gulf of Maine and Baltic regions