| This thesis presents a zooarchaeological analysis of faunal remains excavated from the site AMR-186, located in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The site exhibits excellent preservation of bone associated with stone tools diagnostic of the Denbigh Flint Complex of the Arctic Small Tool tradition. A geoarchaeological study shows the animal bones discarded around 4000 years ago were preserved in peat until incorporated into the permafrost where they have remained frozen for millennia. Analysis of the bones shows that caribou, Dall's sheep, wolf, a variety of small mammals, birds and fish were exploited by Denbigh people, but caribou dominates in count, and in terms of available calories. These specialized caribou hunters, however, varied their processing methods, indicating separate occupations or a shift in behavior due to a seasonal decrease in caribou availability. Comparisons with ethnoarchaeological studies from the region suggest activities related to a mass butchering event occurred, and were later followed by activities in line with normal daily consumption of caribou. The evidence suggests one long occupation accounts for the spatial patterning of the assemblage. |
