A Zooarchaeological study at Buldir Island, Western Aleutians, Alaska
Résumé
During 1991, an archaeological investigation was conducted on Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. This paper presents quantified zooarchaeological data for that site and constitutes the first such report for the western Aleutians. Excavations of two test pits produced a sample of 8822 vertebrate elements, representing marine mammals, birds, and fish. In terms of meat yield, Steller sea lion [Eumetopias jubata) dominated the assemblage. Although the most important parameters for traditional Aleut bird hunting have been size and weight, our research suggests that smaller bird species, including the whiskered auklet, were hunted for purposes of clothing ornamentation rather than for meat yield. Presence of alcids, pelagic fish, and infant sea lions in the assemblage supports a scenario for summer occupation of Buldir by Aleut hunters; however, the ratio of adult sea lion remains provides evidence for possible year-round habitation on the island. Although sea lions provided the highest meat yield in the eastern and western Aleutians, fish played a much larger role in the eastern economies. Alcids dominate the archaeological faunal assemblages in the western Aleutians, but albatrosses, cormorants, and other Procellari dae are the most prevalent species found in the east. Preliminary archaeological evidence suggests that short-tailed albatross, black-legged kitti wakes, murrelets, and least auklets varied in importance on Buldir over time.