Scientific evidence
Scientific evidence of early occupation of the area is sparse. Lake Temagami was free of glacial ice at about 12,150 cal B.P. There is scientific evidence that the Three Pines site, located at Sand Point on the hub of Lake Temagami near Bear Island, could have been occupied after 7,500 B.P. The Three Pines site includes artifacts similar those found elsewhere that dated to the Archaic Period (7,000-3,000 B.P.). There is radiocarbon-dated evidence of human occupation 8488 ± 105 cal B.P. 130 km to the west at Fox Lake and 5791 ± 275 cal B.P. to the north east where the Montreal River empties in to Lake Timiskaming.