The authors show that the principal correlates of feasting in Viking Age Iceland were beef and barley, while itself is here primary instrument social action. Documentary references, ethnographic analogies, archaeological excavation biological analyses are woven together to present an exemplary procedure for recognition more widely.

Bones of the flightless sea duck (Chendytes lawi) from 14 archaeological sites along California coast indicate that humans hunted species for at least 8,000 years before it was driven to extinction. Direct (14)C dates on Chendytes bones show exploited southern islands as early approximately 11,150-10,280 calendar B.P., and mainland by 8,500 B.P. The youngest direct date 2,720-2,350 combined with absence hundreds late Holocene sites, suggests extinct 2,400 ago. Although extinction clearly...

Intensive size-selective harvesting can drive evolution of sexual maturity at smaller body size. Conversely, prehistoric, low-intensity subsistence is not considered an effective agent evolution. Uniting archaeological, palaeontological and contemporary material, we show that size in the edible conch Strombus pugilis declined significantly from pre-human (approx. 7 ka) to prehistoric times 1 again present day. Size also fell early- late-prehistoric periods, synchronous with increase...

ABSTRACT In 1976, Yosihiko H. Sinoto conducted extensive archaeological survey and excavations on Reao Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago as part of a Japanese, multi‐disciplinary expedition led by Prof. Sachiko Hatanaka. Primarily excavating three marae four habitation sites totalling ∼180 m 2 , more than 25000 vertebrate remains were recovered. We report the jidentification analysis fauna contrast inventories from secular sacred contexts inferring ritual use pig, dog, turtle tuna (Scombridae),...

Abstract The archaeological record of California was surveyed to gain an understanding Native American fisheries and locate the prehistoric distributions freshwater anadromous fishes. Over 152,000 piscine elements were added prior totals. On San Francisco Bay, important intertidal especially well documented for bat rays Myliobatis californica , sturgeons Acipenser spp., Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha clupeids, atherinopsids. same sites also indicate former presence various species,...

Post-hatching ontogeny is described for the skeleton of a large, direct-developing, terrestrial plethodontid salamander, Aneides Iugubris. This species appears to have most pro- longed plethodontids. Until end second year life, osteological ontog- eny similar that other species, but beyond point major changes occur. Ossification long bones continues throughout life and never completed. Elements such as pelvic plate ossify continuously, completely. Mesopodial elements remain cartilaginous...

Abstract When conservation strategies require new, field‐based information, practitioners must find the best ways to rapidly deliver high‐quality survey data. To address this challenge, several rapid‐assessment approaches have been developed since early 1990s. These typically involve large areas, take many months complete, and are not appropriate when conservation‐relevant data urgently needed for a specific locale. In contrast, bioblitzes designed quick collection of site‐specific Although...

Driven to the brink of extinction during nineteenth century commercial fur and oil trade, northern elephant seal (NES, Mirounga angustirostris) populations now exceed 100 000 animals in northeast Pacific from Alaska Baja California. Because little is known about biogeography ecology NES prior mid-nineteenth century, we synthesize analyze occurrence remains North American archaeological sites. Comparing these data with modern biogeographical, genetic, behavioral data, provide a trans-Holocene...

Dolphins are widespread in warm oceanic and coastal waters. They habitually frequent islands. In California, Chile, other localities, prehistoric peoples targeted dolphins. Some communities specialised their capture. Elsewhere, human use of cetaceans is attributed to opportunistic exploitation active or stranded animals. Meso- Central America, the scarcity archaeological sites inferred reflect difficulties capture at sea with available technology. An unrecorded regional pattern evident on...

The Cerro de las Conchas shell mound, located on Mexico's south Pacific coast, was formed between 7,500 and 6,000/5,500 years ago, during the Middle Archaic period. Few Mesoamerican coastal sites are as early or have been studied so intensively. Limited diversity in artifact assemblage faunal origins, presence of bedded strata, absence features associated with permanent residency indicate that site used intermittently a processing station for aquatic foods. Seasonality studies clam shells...

We propose that pottery-using villages did not appear in the upland Apizaco region of central Tlaxcala, Mexico, until after 1000 B.C., centuries such developments choice locations for maize agriculture. excavated at two earliest known Formative sites region. That work revealed abundant intact refuse deposits, allowing us to evaluate an existing ceramic chronology with new radiocarbon dates as well characterize subsistence. Our results support a more general model emerging sedentism Mexico...

ABSTRACT Results of electrical resistivity surveying and pseudo‐three‐dimensional tomographic imaging at the 15 ha Pre‐Hispanic archaeological site Sitio Drago, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro province, Panama are presented. The was occupied between ad 690–1410 represents largest known nucleated settlement in province. A low mound centre selected for intensive order to locate buried features. series surveys were conducted, including mapping imaging. results revealed a group anomalies associated...

Abstract Although protocols exist for the recovery of ancient DNA from land snail and marine bivalve shells, conch shells have yet to be studied a paleogenomic perspective. We first present reference assemblies both 623.7 Mbp nuclear genome 15.4 kbp mitochondrial Strombus pugilis , West Indian fighting conch. next detail method extract sequence apply it Bocas del Toro, Panama across three time periods: recently‐eaten discarded ( n = 3), Late Holocene (984–1258 before [BP]) archaeological...

The island laboratory concept has long been an important construct in archaeology, with emphasis on human biogeography and issues of isolation, connectivity, interaction, evolution, extinction. Pacific Coast Alta Baja California contains several offshore islands that offer a framework for evaluating variety cultural ecological issues. Islands include large (>100 km2) abundant resources were attractive to ancient people 13,000 years numerous small (5 km2 area or less), many which contain...

Archaeological excavations on Tiga provide the first vouchered herpetological records for this small island between Lifou and Maré in Loyalty Islands. Eighty-three skeletal elements from four sites yielded material assignable to skinks (Emoia loyaltiensis, Lioscincus nigrofasciolatus), geckos (Bavayia crass i-collis, B. sp., Gehyra georgpotthasti, Nactus pelagicus), a boid snake (Candoia bihroni) all known elsewhere Loyalties, as well undetermined consistent with these other Loyalties...