A late Pleistocene Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) from Courtenay, British Columbia: its death, associated biota, and paleoenvironment

Abstract

A partial juvenile Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) skeleton from nearshore marine sands at Courtenay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia has been radiocarbon dated to 12 570 ± 70 BP. This date is supported by both stratigraphic and regional sea-level emergence data and is similar to radiocarbon dates on a Steller sea lion humerus from Bowen Island, just north of Vancouver. The juvenile apparently died from a blow to the braincase, most likely caused by a Steller sea lion bull. The Courtenay specimen is significant since very few Pleistocene otariid fossils are complete enough to be assigned to modern taxa. Associated mollusk remains indicate that the marine paleoclimate of the fossil locality was considerably colder than now -close to that along the northern reaches of Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound, Alaska. Pollen and plant macrofossils collected from the Courtenay site clearly demonstrate the presence of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests nearby during this early late-glacial interval. Fish remains (mainly Pacific cod and walleye pollock, with some salmon) from this site probably reflect selection by adult sea lions at a rookery.

Mobility and Ancient Society in Asia and the Americas

“…Heaton and Grady ( 2003 ) have also dated Stellar Sea Lion ( Eumetopias jubata ) to the early LGM in southeast Alaska. Farther to the south this same species has been dated to about 14,570 cal BP (12,570 ± 70 14 C BP ) at the Courtenay fossil site on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Harington et al 2004 ). Like harbor seals, the range of Stellar Sea Lion extends from California's Channel Islands along the north Pacifi c Rim to northern Japan.…”

The fossil record of Eumetopias

“…(2004) described in detail a well‐preserved and well‐documented partial juvenile skull with partial skeleton of E. jubatus , dated at 12,720 ± 70 bp , from Courtenay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The specimen is preserved in the Courtenay and District Museum, number 996.20. Harington et al . (2004:1287) also reported a female left humerus of E. jubatus recovered from a well on Bowen Island, British Columbia. Two dates on the same specimen were 13,180 ± 90 bp and 12,700 ± 270 bp .…”

“… Heaton and Grady (2003:27, 29, 36, 43), in a continuing program of collecting in, and research on, caves of the northern end of Prince of Wales Island (and adjacent islands), Alaska, have recorded Eumetopias jubatus from “throughout the age range of the On Your Knees Cave deposit including the last glacial maximum.” Radiocarbon dates on two teeth were 20,170 ± 450 bp and 20, 820 ± 650 bp Much younger material recovered from archaeological context is not relevant here. Harington et al . (2004) described in detail a well‐preserved and well‐documented partial juvenile skull with partial skeleton of E. jubatus , dated at 12,720 ± 70 bp , from Courtenay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.…”

“…Harington et al . (2004) described in detail a well‐preserved and well‐documented partial juvenile skull with partial skeleton of E. jubatus , dated at 12,720 ± 70 bp , from Courtenay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.…”

Early human use of anadromous salmon in North America at 11,500 y ago

“…Although the remains from both of these locales were morphologically identified as O. nerka, carbon stable isotope analysis of specimens from Kamloops Lake suggests that the fish were likely the landlocked form of O. nerka, known as kokanee (11). Other late Pleistocene paleontological fish remains assigned to Pacific salmon derive from two additional sites in British Columbia, including Courtenay (Vancouver Island) and Gaadu Din 1 cave (Haida Gwaii) (12,13). Specimens from the latter site were genetically identified as "salmon," but the details of the aDNA analysis were not reported (13).…”