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Exploring Prehistoric Seabird Use in the Bering Sea

Exploring Prehistoric Seabird Use in the Bering Sea. Erica Hill University of Alaska Southeast. St. Lawrence I. Zooarchaeology of St. Lawrence Island  reconstruct prehistoric subsistence Analysis and identification of animal remains from previously excavated sites.

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Exploring Prehistoric Seabird Use in the Bering Sea

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  1. Exploring Prehistoric Seabird Use in the Bering Sea Erica Hill University of Alaska Southeast

  2. St. Lawrence I

  3. Zooarchaeology of St. Lawrence Island  reconstruct prehistoric subsistence Analysis and identification of animal remains from previously excavated sites

  4. Taxa in SLI faunal assemblages • Walrus • Phoca spp. (seals) • Bearded seal • Polar bear • Canids • Seabirds (Alcidae) • Fish (probably ground fish) • Sea urchin

  5. Why Seabirds? • Seabirds arrive in the spring  bridge resource • Many seabirds and eggs can be harvested with • minimal risk and skill • Seabirds and eggs are predictable resources • Seabirds and eggs are clumpedresources

  6. Alcidae(web-footed diving birds) • Puffins • Murres and Murrelets • Auks and Auklets • Guillemots

  7. Alcidae(web-footed diving birds) • Usually associated with northern latitudes • Marine • Wing-propelled pursuit divers • Colonial nesters

  8. Bird bolas

  9. Netting auklets, St. Lawrence Island

  10. Harvesting Eggs on the Diomedes

  11. Current work Correlating: • seabird colonies • walrus haulouts • human settlements

  12. Conclusions • Breeding site fidelity in seabirds • Humans locating sites near colonies • Seabirds and their eggs were critical bridge resources

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