An examination into the presence or absence of a Northern Fur Seal Rookery at DfSj-23A and DfSi-4
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Date
2015
Authors
McGreevy, Tegan Marie
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Abstract
This thesis builds a demographic profile of the Northern Fur Seal (NFS) population being consumed at DfSi-4 and DfSj-23 to determine if a NFS rookery existed within close proximity to both sites. A demographic profile of the death assemblages found at each site was built using visual identification, a non-linear growth curve algorithm developed by Michael Etnier (2002) and ancient DNA analysis. This study uses the demographic profile to evaluate the existence of a NFS rookery within the Barkley Sound area. Ultimately the existence of a rookery depends on demonstrating the existence of four age categories: fetal/newborn, juvenile, adult and adult male. Results indicate that a rookery likely existed near DfSj-24A, but there is much less certainty for DfSi-4. Further inquiry is now possible into the economic and ecological relationships that existed between the Toquaht and the NFS within the Barkley Sound area.
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Keywords
Northwest Coast, Archaeology, Faunal, Northern Fur Seal, Rookery, Toquaht