The Importance of Birds in Ocean Bay Subsistence: Results from the Mink Island Site, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Large mammal biomass predicts the changing distribution of hunter-gatherer settlements in mid-late Holocene Alaska

“…Consistent with the first, since the 1970s marine biologists working in the Gulf of Alaska and southern Bering Sea have documented population declines for sea lions, seals, and sea otters of 50-70% (Boveng et al, 2003;Burn and Doroff, 2005;Estes et al, 2009;Jemison et al, 2006;Sease and York, 2003;Small et al, 2008;Yen et al, 2005). In support of the second explanation, however, is the faunal record at Ocean Bay sites, which shows fish, shellfish and birds were major dietary components throughout human history in the Gulf of Alaska (Casperson, 2012;Clark, 1998Clark, , 2001). …”

“…We assume the animals that occupy these ecological zones today also occupied them in the past. Zooarchaeological studies across Alaska offer broad support for this assumption (Casperson, 2012;Clark, 1998;Crockford and Frederick, 2007;Giddings, 1964;Larsen, 1968;Potter, 2008b;Schaaf, 2015;Shirar, 2009;Stanford, 1976;Stephenson et al, 2001;Tremayne, 2011;Yesner, 1989). We recognize that some areas experienced greater environmental instability, primarily due to volcanic activity (e.g., southwest Alaska), but the presence of sites in these areas throughout our study window suggests animal and human populations always recovered to reinhabit impacted areas relatively quickly, notwithstanding an apparent 500 year hiatus around beginning around 3400 cal BP (Dumond, 2004;Tremayne, 2015b;VanderHoek, 2009).…”

Investigating the Utility of Birds in Precontact Yup’ik Subsistence: A Preliminary Analysis of the Avian Remains from Nunalleq

“…Archéozoologie, Alaska, yup'ik précontact, exploitation aviaire, technologie osseuse ****** B irds were a significant resource to precontact and historic, Arctic and subarctic communities as a source of meat, eggs, and raw materials, but they also played a central symbolic and spiritual role (Casperson 2012;Corbett 2016;Fienup-Riordan 2007;Funk 2018;Sloan 2014). As a result, bird remains are often abundant in archeological assemblages from the region (Betts 2016, 85-86) but often attract less analytical attention than other faunal remains (Casperson 2012, 20;Kristensen 2011, 293).…”

“…As a result, bird remains are often abundant in archeological assemblages from the region (Betts 2016, 85-86) but often attract less analytical attention than other faunal remains (Casperson 2012, 20;Kristensen 2011, 293). Several zooarchaeological studies have focused on the exploitation of bird remains in Alaska (Casperson 2012;Corbett 2016;Gelvin-Reymeiller and Reuther 2010;Lefèvre and Siegel-Causey 1993;Moss 2007;Moss and Bowers 2007;Souders 1997;Sloan 2014) and in southern Greenland (Gotfredsen 1997(Gotfredsen , 2002Gotfredsen and Møbjerg 2004). The extensive ethnographic literature can provide essential traditional knowledge on the use of birds (see Fienup-Riordan 2007;Funk 2018;Hill 2019;Hoffman 1990;Pratt 1990 for reviews) as well as an interpretative framework for the analysis of avian remains (Corbett 2016;Sloan 2014, 34).…”

Ecosystem Services from Transborder Migratory Species: Implications for Conservation Governance

“…The most widespread and important provisioning service associated with migratory wildlife has been and remains their use for food. Indigenous and rural communities around the world have engaged in subsistence harvest for thousands of years (117) and continue to do so today (118)(119)(120). Migratory species offer seasonally abundant provisioning services to communities located within different portions of their range.…”