Foxy Ladies: investigating human-animal interactions at Agvik, Banks Island

Summary

Outstanding organic preservation at many Arctic sites gives archaeologists access to large artifactual and faunal assemblages through which to examine human-animal interactions. However, much of the research focused on these interactions conceives them not only in ecological/economic terms, but also examines them at the level of entire communities (e.g. zooarchaeological studies of subsistence) or focuses on the predominantly male realm of hunting. The Arctic ethnographic record reflects a strongly gendered division of labour. We therefore suggest that at least some elements of human social interactions with non-human animals were strongly gendered as well. In a case study from a 500-year-old Inuit dwelling at Agvik (OkRn-1) on Banks Island, we examine the material evidence for the ways in which women and men engaged with a range of animal species in their daily lives. One dwelling at Agvik contains a number of unusual features suggesting that the preparation of fox skins was an important activity at the site. Over 90 slate uluit (women’s knifes) were recovered in addition to a possible symbolic cluster of fox crania. We go on to consider the implications for human social relationships with these animals.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Reimagining Human-Animal Relations in the Circumpolar North

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17453