Faunal management and human-landscape interactions at Ifugao, Luzon, Philippines

Summary

One major contribution of the Ifugao Archaeological Project in the northern Philippines (Luzon) is associating the origins of the Ifugao wet-rice terrace complex with local resistance against Spanish colonial expansion. With the establishment of wet-rice agriculture in the highlands by the early 17th century, it is anticipated that the acquisition and management of fauna would have been modified to adapt to new strategies of crop production. In this context, it is hypothesized that changes in faunal diet over time would serve as a proxy to landscape change and animal management. For this study, identified faunal remains representing four taxa (43 teeth and 29 bones) recovered from Old Kiyyangan Village are analyzed for light stable isotopes. Bone samples processed to data demonstrate good collagen yields and interesting patterns that reflect anthropogenic input. For example, carbon isotope ratios for Sus are very heterogeneous (in contrast to sampled bovines and deer), a pattern that supports the expectation that some individuals were opportunistic and/or refuse feeders most likely associated with human habitation. Isotopic data for sampled fauna are presented and discussed in light of the occupation of Old Kiyyangan Village, and animal management in the context of Spanish colonial impact and local resistance.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Methodological Advances in Isotopic Zooarchaeology

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15614