Ethnohistoric documents as analogical tools: A case study from northwest Alaska

Norman, Lauren

doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2018.05.004

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…As demonstrated by Friesen and Betts () and analysed for this house (Norman, ), variable spatial patterning of faunal material within a house leads to distinctly different taxonomic, element, and modification frequencies in different areas. Future analyses of complete fill and floor assemblages are necessary to compare and refine these findings, as different areas within the fill and floor will likely result from different sets of activities, and will therefore yield a variety of patterns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…This square provides a minimum sample size for comparison of the two contexts (fill n = 886; floor n = 549). The floor assemblage was the focus of other analyses (Norman, ; Norman, Friesen, Alix, O'Rourke, & Mason, ); identifying the entire fill assemblage is beyond the scope of this preliminary research. Future work will be necessary to analyse the horizontal spatial patterns of fill at this feature and compare it with the entire floor assemblage.…”

Section: Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparing fill and floor: A taphonomic framework for understanding depositional histories in a semi‐subterranean house in north‐west Alaska

Norman

2018

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Collapsed semi-subterranean dwelling features are often excellent sources for well-preserved faunal, artefactual, and architectural material in the Arctic. However, collapsed structures may be reused after house abandonment as storage areas, hunting blinds, refuse areas, or other resource facilities. Despite their reuse and possibly different occupation period, artefacts and faunal material from the fill are often employed, uncritically, to interpret the original house occupation. Within a Thule Inuit house depression, I employ an analytical framework as a heuristic device to compare the social nature of the various faunal deposits and the processes that affected them. Analyses show that the taphonomic processes alter the fill more extensively and intensively than the underlying floor. The floor shows little post-depositional disturbance and is evidence for a cold-season occupation. By contrast, the fill is a palimpsest of multiple occupations, some possibly related to the house occupation.Archaeologists need to differentiate fill from floor contexts when talking about the original occupation because the taphonomy of the two contexts indicate each is a distinct set of assemblages with differing operative processes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%