Archaeological Sea Mammal Remains from the Maritime Provinces of Canada

Abstract

Abstract Faunal assemblages from Maritime Woodland period shell-bearing archaeological sites in the Maritime Provinces show that people living on marine shorelines practiced foraging/collecting adaptations focused on the resources of the littoral zone and inshore waters. The hunting of sea mammals, especially the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), was a significant aspect of this adaptation. Evidence suggests that people hunted seals when the animals were hauled out on intertidal ledges, during their breeding, pupping, and moulting seasons: spring/summer for harbour seals and mid-December—early spring for grey seals. Stratigraphic, culture-historical, zooarchaeological, and paleodietary information suggest that the hunting of sea mammals peaked during the Middle Maritime Woodland and earlier Late Maritime Woodland periods (2260−930 cal B.P.).