There have been several periods in the development of Inuit culture. The first identified period is one archaeologists call Paleo-Eskimos (3000-5000 years ago). Over a 1000 years or so, they developed into the people called the Dorset.

The Dorset lived in the central and eastern Canadian Arctic until about 1000 years ago, and their tools and weapons changed to adapt to the harsh conditions and limited resources. Archaeologists have found ivory snow-knives and soapstone lamps, suggesting that they could build snow-houses and heat them with seal oil.

Painted wooden masks, miniature ivory carvings (Top), and faces carved on rocks (Right) tell us that the Dorset people were fine artists.

INUIT HISTORY:
Paleo-Eskimo Period: 3000-5000 years ago.
Dorset Period: 1000-3000 years ago.
Thule ("Toolee") Period: 300-1000 years ago.
Historical Period: Present-300 years ago.