The culture was of Arctic origin and migrated south after the decline of the Maritime Archaic people following the 900 BC Iron Age Cold Epoch.

Remains of animals found in Groswater sites imply a reliance on sea mammals, especially the Harp seal.

[4] They used tools made from finely cut Chert, a rock used by the Paleo-Eskimo peoples of the North Atlantic.

They used tools made from finely cut chert, a rock used by the Paleo-Eskimo peoples of the North Atlantic.

The characteristic, or typical, Groswater tool assemblage is defined by: box-based, side-notched, plano-convex harpoon endblades; circular and ovate sideblades; rectangular and triangular endscrapers, some of which are eared; chipped and ground burin-like tools; concave sidescrapers; large, side-notched bifaces; microblades; long, narrow, quartzite abraders; and chipped and ground axes and adzes