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Project Managers: Dr. Deborah Olszewski (Lecturer, Anthropology),
Dr. Harold Dibble (Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs and Professor,
Anthropology) and U. Schurmans (Anthropology Graduate Student)
One of the most tangible fields of study within prehistoric archaeology
is that of hunting technology. This results from the fact that remains
of items from hunting kits are often ubiquitous at archaeological
sites. Bone fragments, and to a larger extent stone points, tend
to preserve well in the archaeological record. As archaeologists,
we are often forced to reconstruct the morphology of hunting equipment,
the function of this equipment, and specific hunting strategies
through the analysis of the scanty remains of these technologies
– the points. To circumvent this problem, archaeologists have
searched for clues in the material equipment and the cultural patterns
of living groups, by using ethnographic, ethnohistoric, and ethnoarchaeological
sources. Barbed harpoon points, stone tipped arrows and the like
often feature in the literature as comparative material in prehistoric
studies (for example, Bellier et al 2000; Blackwood 1950; Goodwin
1945; Knecht 1997; Noetling 1911; Pokines and Krupa 1997; Pope 1918,
1923; Weniger 2000; Berke 1976).
This research project is directed toward the use of Alaskan ethnohistoric
and archaeological collections, available at the Museum. It will
involve archaeological collections made by Frederica de Laguna during
her excavations in the Cook Inlet in three seasons from 1930 to
1932 (de Laguna 1975). Related Alaskan ethnohistorical collections
of the Museum will serve as a control for the functional significance
of the archaeological specimens. The de Laguna archaeological collection
consists of some 4,700 artifacts, a quarter of which are bone, antler,
or ivory. The most important part of this collection comes from
Kachemak Bay and belongs to four stages of prehistoric and protohistoric
Eskimo culture (de Laguna 1975). The ethnohistoric collections from
Eskimo and Athapascan peoples are substantive and consist of material
from both Alaskan and Canadian natives. Collections were made by
William B. Van Valin (1912-1920), Edward Avery McIlhenny (1890s),
George B. Gordon (1907), Peary (1892 and 1894), and Captain George
Comer (1911). These ethnohistoric collections comprise a wide variety
of objects including important components of hunting equipment.
The focus of the study will be on breakage patterns of bone implements,
such as harpoon points, fish-hooks, spears, and arrow points, from
the archaeological collection. The study will have two goals. The
first is to further our understanding of prehistoric Alaskan hunting
technology and hunting techniques. The second is to use the ethnohistoric
material and ethnographic record to add to and to serve as a check
on our understanding of stone age hunting technology in general
(Johnson 1985). The ethnohistorical material will add to the corpus
of knowledge on breakage patterns that has resulted from experimental
research (Knecht 1997, 1993; Stodiek 2000; Cattelain 1997, 2000;
Albrecht 1976; Arndt and Newcomer 1986; Nuzhnyi 1998), add to our
knowledge of hafting options (Knecht 2000; Bergman 1987), and help
resolve functional ambiguities of bone, antler, and ivory implements
(see, eg., Gramsch 2000; Verhard 2000).
Students will study and examine the de Laguna and ethnohistoric
collections in collaboration with a University of Pennsylvania undergraduate
student. Dr. Deborah Olszewski, Dr. Harold Dibble, and Utsav Schurmans
will hold scientific supervision and responsibility for this study.
In addition, Dr. Philip Chase (Senior Research Scientist) will serve
as a consultant to the project. The team of undergraduates will
have the opportunity to be involved in all stages of a scientific
study beginning with research design and background research to
data collection and finally write-up and publication of the results.
TARGET STUDENTS: Anthropology, Museum Studies, Cultural Studies
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