Investigating resource sustainability during two millennia of occupation on Ebon Atoll, Marshall Islands: the ichthyoarchaeological evidence

Summary

Low coral atolls, consisting predominately of unconsolidated sand and gravel, are commonly less than 2 m above sea level; consequently, atolls are amongst the most precarious landscapes for sustained human occupation in Oceania. Constraints encountered by colonisers include nutrient-poor soils and salt laden winds which hindered plant growth, the absence of perennial surface freshwater, limited terrestrial biodiversity, and an inherent vulnerability to extreme weather events. Conversely, the marine ecosystem is exceedingly rich and diverse. Recent excavations have documented two millennia of continuous occupation on Ebon Atoll where fish remains are ubiquitous throughout the sequence. Ecological measures of diversity and trophic level analysis were applied to assess resource sustainability over time. This diverse range of analytical methods provides a more comprehensive understanding of the dialogue between humans and their environment.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage