Animal utilization and animal rituals of the Okhotsk culture: with special reference to their period and regional differences

Summary

In the animal utilization and animal rituals of the Okhotsk culture, chronological and regional differences can be observed. Significant differences can be seen between the northern and eastern regions of Hokkaido in terms of the volume of archaeological artifacts recovered relating to both domestic animals (dogs, pigs) and wild animals. In northern Hokkaido, there are conspicuous differences in the use of a variety of fishes and types of sea urchins between the early period (Towada) and the middle period (Kokumon). In addition, in eastern Hokkaido, there appears to have been a rapid increase in the incidence of beliefs and rituals relating to deer during the late Okhotsk culture (Tenpumon Period). In this paper, we review this variation based on the findings of recent excavations, and we discuss the social and economic changes affecting the people of the Okhotsk culture in response to changes in climate and shoreline conditions, as well as the success or failures of neighboring peoples.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16471