Preliminary Vertebrate Faunal Analysis of Hup’kisakuu7a (93T): Results from 2015 and 2016 Excavations

Summary

Excavations conducted at the site of Hup’kisakuu7a (93T), in partnership with the Tseshaht First Nation, unearthed a variety of fauna that merit zooarchaeological analysis. Unlike the major ancient village sites previously excavated, such as Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii, the shallow shell midden of 93T is representative of a small-scale site, potentially occupied over a long period of time, comparable to that of the aforementioned major sites. The faunal assemblage is small in comparison to those of major village sites and differs notably in its consequent composition. Data from two separate excavation seasons have been quantified by weight, number of specimens and volume excavated per cubic meter. The datasets have been integrated to assess intrasite temporal and taphonomic trends, as well as intersite variation. Analysis reveals discernible intrasite variation that is consistent with house floor deposits and associated midden refuse. Intersite comparisons indicate that the characteristics of Hup’kisakuu7a are unique and provide context within a larger archaeological understanding of subsistence practices in Barkley Sound. These results contribute to the ancient and continuous cultural history of the Tseshaht in the Broken Group Islands of Barkley Sound.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Student Research in Coastal and Community Archaeology at the University of Victoria

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16588