Thesis (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2020This thesis utilizes a zooarchaeological collection from 49-RAT-32 on Amchitka Island in the Western Aleutians to examine Unangax̂ subsistence strategies, and human/environment interactions from 620 ± 20 to 320 ± 20 years B.P. The materials used for this analysis were recovered from primary and secondary fill overlaying the House 1 floor. Paleoecological records within this region are limited and conflict with each other, but the cool and wet conditions of the Little Ice Age 600-100 years B.P, or C.E. 1350-1850 are believed to be in effect during the deposition of the fill materials. Marine mammal, fish, and sea urchin remains were analyzed to understand subsistence practices, seasonality, and land/seascape use. The relative abundance of the exploited taxa and fork lengths of marine fishes were analyzed to identify potential resource stress and change over time. Atka mackerel dominates the faunal assemblage and Pacific cod are present in very low frequencies, both of which make 49-RAT-32 unique when compared to other Aleutian assemblages. Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, and Irish lords are larger in size than their modern counterparts, with the large size of Pacific cod indicating deep sea fishing practices. The size differentials in Atka mackerel and Irish lords may reflect differences in ocean conditions. This analysis of fauna from 49-RAT-32 does not indicate the presence of human-driven resource depression, in fact, fish sizes were increasing, and diet breadth was shrinking. The opposite pattern from what would be expected if humans were overfishing. The data from this analysis increase our understanding of resource utilization and landscape use during the Late Aleutian Period, and provides baseline information for future studies analyzing changes in fish size over time.University of Alaska Museum of the North Geist FundChapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: Background -- 2.1 Physical Environment -- 2.1.1 Setting -- 2.1.2 Physical Geology -- 2.1.3 Climate -- 2.1.4 Oceanography -- 2.2 Ecology -- 2.2.1 Vegetation -- 2.2.2 Marine Mammals -- 2.2.3 Birds -- 2.2.4 Fish -- 2.3 Culture History -- 2.3.1 Region -- 2.3.2 The Unangax̂ -- 2.3.3 Social Organization and Politics -- 2.3.4 Burial Practices -- 2.3.5 Warfare -- 2.3.6 Settlements and Households -- 2.3.7 Material Culture -- 2.3.8 Subsistence -- 2.4 Archaeological Studies & Interpretations in the Aleutians -- 2.4.1 Early Studies & Ideas -- 2.4.2 Population Continuity or Replacement 1000 Years BP? -- 2.4.2 Maritime Economy -- 2.4.3 Archaeology in the Western Aleutians -- 2.4.4 Limiting Factors -- 2.5 Background Summary. Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework -- 3.1 Historical Ecology -- 3.1.1 Background of Historical Ecology -- 3.1.2 Historical Ecology in the Aleutians and Southwest Alaska -- 3.2 Research Questions -- 3.3 Research Goals and Expectations -- 3.3.1 Subsistence Practices -- 3.3.2 Change Over Time and Resource Stress -- 3.4 Non-Human vs. Human Signatures -- 3.4.1 The Effect of Climate Regimes on Marine Resources -- 3.4.2 Human Signatures -- 3.5 Impact on Future Aleutian Studies. Chapter 4: Materials and Methods -- 4.1 Excavation -- 4.1.1 49-RAT-32 Setting -- 4.1.2 Collection and Sampling Methods -- 4.2 Identification Methods and Data Classes -- 4.3 Quantification of Species -- 4.3.1 Number of Identified Species -- 4.3.2 Normalized NISP -- 4.3.3 Minimum Number of Individuals -- 4.3.4 Age Determinations -- 4.4 Fork Length, Meat Weight, and Statistical Measures -- 4.4.1 Estimated Fork Length -- 4.4.2 Meat Weights -- 4.4.3 Statistical Measures -- 4.5 Taphonomy -- 4.6 Summary. Chapter 5: Results -- 5.1 Identified Taxa -- 5.2 Results -- 5.2.1 Analyzed Deposit -- 5.2.2 Recovered Fish -- 5.3 Statistical Measures -- 5.3.1 Changes in Taxonomic Frequency Over Time -- 5.3.2 Fish Lengths -- 5.4 Marine Mammals -- 5.5 Meat Weights -- 5.6 Butchery and Storage -- 5.7 Taphonomy -- 5.8 Interlude to the Discussion. Chapter 6: Discussion -- 6.1 Faunal Analysis and Identification -- 6.1.1 Sample Context -- 6.1.2 Comparative Material -- 6.2 Season(s) of Site Occupation -- 6.3 Exploited Habitats -- 6.3.1 Intertidal and Nearshore -- 6.3.2 Offshore -- 6.4 Fish Exploitation and Variation in Body Size -- 6.4.1 Atka Mackerel Fork Lengths and Frequency -- 6.4.2 Greenling Fork Lengths and Frequency -- 6.4.3 Irish Lords Fork Lengths and Frequency -- 6.4.4 Pacific Cod Fork Lengths and Frequency -- 6.4.5 Rockfish Fork Lengths and Frequency -- 6.4.6 Atka Mackerel Versus Greenlings -- 6.4.7 Summary of Measurements and Abundance -- 6.5 Diet and Meat Weights -- 6.6 Body Part Profiles -- 6.7 Summary -- Chapter 7: Conclusions -- References Cited -- Appendices
