Native American Use of Seals, Sea Lions, and Sea Otters in Estuaries of Northern Oregon and Southern Washington
Native American Use of Seals, Sea Lions, and Sea Otters in Estuaries of Northern Oregon and Southern Washington
Over the last twenty-five years, archaeologists have compiled a substantial zooarchaeological record of pinnipeds on the Washington, Oregon, and California coasts. Archaeological studies have also shown that patterns of pinniped species abundance and distribution in the late twentieth century do not necessarily reflect conditions in the ancient past, while recent biological studies demonstrate range expansion of some species subsequent to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Archaeologists disagree over what the zooarchaeological record reveals about Native American hunting during pre-contact times. Did pinnipeds regularly use mainland breeding areas prior to human use? Did Native Americans club pinnipeds on their terrestrial breeding areas or use watercraft and specialized technologies to hunt at sea? Did Native American hunting cause changes in pinniped or sea otter behavior and migration patterns? This chapter explores Native American use of seals, sea lions, and sea otters in the estuaries of northern Oregon and southern Washington.
Keywords: Native Americans, seals, sea lions, sea otters, estuaries, Oregon, Washington, hunting, pinnipeds, breeding
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