A Multiscalar Consideration of the Athabascan Migration

Abstract

<jats:p>Genetic and linguistic evidence suggests that, after living in the Subarctic for thousands of years, Northern Athabascans began migrating to the American Southwest around 1,000 years ago. Anthropologists have proposed that this partial out-migration and several associated in situ behavioral changes were the result of a massive volcanic eruption that decimated regional caribou herds. However, regional populations appear to increase around the time of these changes, a demographic shift that may have led to increased territoriality, resource stress, and specialization. Building on existing syntheses of cultural dynamics in the region, analyses of excavated materials, and landscape data from Alaska and Yukon, this research shows that the Athabascan transition represented a gradual shift toward resource specialization in both salmon and caribou with an overall increase in diet breadth, indicating a behavioral transition that is more consistent with gradual demographic change. Further, this behavioral shift was already in motion at the time of the volcanic eruption circa 1150 cal BP and suggests that the ultimate migration from the area was the result of demographic pressures. In sum, this research elaborates on the complex dynamics of resilience and adaptation in hunter-gatherer groups and provides a testable model for explaining past migrations.</jats:p>

Power, security, and exchange: Impacts of a Late Holocene volcanic eruption in Subarctic North America

“…Economic exchange, Dene movement, and White River Ash east Some have argued that WRAe had no real consequences for hunter-gatherers (e.g., Gordon, 2012). Doering et al (2020) suggest that demographic shifts in the Yukon Basin prior to WRAe may have led to increased territoriality, resource stress, and harvesting specialization (salmon and caribou), coupled with an overall increase in diet breadth. Gradual demographic pressures accordingly stimulated behavioral transitions in the study area and Dene migration, irrespective of the WRAe eruption (Doering et al, 2020).…”

“…Doering et al (2020) suggest that demographic shifts in the Yukon Basin prior to WRAe may have led to increased territoriality, resource stress, and harvesting specialization (salmon and caribou), coupled with an overall increase in diet breadth. Gradual demographic pressures accordingly stimulated behavioral transitions in the study area and Dene migration, irrespective of the WRAe eruption (Doering et al, 2020). While this mode of analysis merits further research, we argue that several lines of evidence (palaeoenvironmental, analogous effects from modern eruptions, sourced lithic proxy data, and technological changes) point to significant impacts of the eruption.…”

“…Woodland caribou were also predictable prey (Farnell et al., 2004; Kuzyk et al., 1999) that did not migrate long distances, but undertook daily and seasonal altitudinal migrations from valleys to alpine areas. In addition to these pulses, moose, sheep, goat, beaver, porcupine, marmot, hare and a variety of lake fish were valued resources across the study area (Doering et al., 2020; Legros, 2007; McClellan, 1975: Thomas and Mun, 2003; Workman, 1978).…”

“…Some have argued that WRAe had no real consequences for hunter-gatherers (e.g., Gordon, 2012). Doering et al. (2020) suggest that demographic shifts in the Yukon Basin prior to WRAe may have led to increased territoriality, resource stress, and harvesting specialization (salmon and caribou), coupled with an overall increase in diet breadth.…”

“…From its origin near Mount Churchill, Alaska (Figure 1), the WRAe eruption spread 5 to 50 cm of tephra (Figure 2) across southern Yukon (Hanson, 1965;Lerbekmo, 2008;Lerbekmo and Campbell, 1969;Lerbekmo et al, 1975;McGimsey et al, 1992;Preece et al, 2014;Richter et al, 1995;Robinson, 2001;West, 2007;West and Donaldson, 2002). The study area, which includes southwest Northwest Territories, southern Yukon, and southeast Alaska, has a 13,000 year history of hunter-gatherers (Castillo, 2012;Doering et al, 2020;Easton, 2007;Easton et al, 2011;Hare, 1995;Thomas and Mun, 2003;Workman, 1978). Decades of regional work have produced theories that connect volcanic events to culture change (Clark, 1991;Derry, 1975;Ives, 1990;Kristensen et al, 2019aKristensen et al, , 2019bKristensen et al, , 2020Moodie et al, 1992;Mullen, 2012;Workman, 1974Workman, , 1979cf.…”