Braham Abstract

Cetacean Ecology and Ancient Whaling in the Arctic

Howard W. Braham, Biology Department, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon

Archaeological evidence collected this century suggests that the use of large whales (cetaceans) by the earliest hunters of the Bering and Chukchi seas (western Arctic) has taken place since at least 3500 BP. What is not clear is whether prehistoric hunters fashioned whaling "technology" as an integral part of their exploitation of coastal marine mammals or simply made the best of a good opportunity to scavenge stranded whales. Also not fully known is when the transition took place from simple "scavenging" to directly taking whales using spear and harpoon; or, why whaling practices came and went throughout the ages without an apparent direct transition from on culture to another into modern times. Several species of cetaceans, particularly bowhead and one culture to another into modern times. Several species of cetaceans, particularly bowhead and gray whales, routinely occur near human settlements. Correspondingly, the habitat use patterns of Native whalers are specifically linked to the timing and seasonal occurrence of these large animals. Not surprisingly, then, most of the identified "pre-Eskimo" coastal cultures, or societies, in the western Arctic show some evidence of the use of whale products. Since the occurrence and behavior of bowhead and gray whales is generally predictable, and important correlation has existed historically between patterns in the occurrence of these whales and the frequency of the types and sizes of whales taken for food and building material. The evidence to suggest that whaling has been an active enterprise comes from the identification of whaling artifacts and implements and the remains of young whales, mostly calves and yearlings, in and around very ancient Native settlements (such Old Whaling Culture sites in the Chukchi Sea and much later Punuk Culture sites in the Bering Sea). One method to help clarify when ancient hunters began to actively whale is to compare the life history of large whales with the physical evidence (such as whale bones) from the chronological (aging) stratification of identified archaeological sites. This paper explores the movements and distribution of bowhead and gray whales in relation to known modern and ancient coastal settlements in the western U.S. and Russian Arctic. Further work proposed under a National Science Foundation joint U.S.-Russia Program, administered through the University of Arkansas and the University of Alaska, will explore site specific evidence for when and where directed whaling began, how this relates to other circumpolar archaeological sites, and the historical significance of whaling in the development of Native societies past and present.

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Cetacean Ecology and Ancient Whaling in the Arctic

Howard W. Braham, Biology Department, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon

Archaeological evidence collected this century suggests that the use of large whales (cetaceans) by the earliest hunters of the Bering and Chukchi seas (western Arctic) has taken place since at least 3500 BP. What is not clear is whether prehistoric hunters fashioned whaling "technology" as an integral part of their exploitation of coastal marine mammals or simply made the best of a good opportunity to scavenge stranded whales. Also not fully known is when the transition took place from simple "scavenging" to directly taking whales using spear and harpoon; or, why whaling practices came and went throughout the ages without an apparent direct transition from on culture to another into modern times. Several species of cetaceans, particularly bowhead and one culture to another into modern times. Several species of cetaceans, particularly bowhead and gray whales, routinely occur near human settlements. Correspondingly, the habitat use patterns of Native whalers are specifically linked to the timing and seasonal occurrence of these large animals. Not surprisingly, then, most of the identified "pre-Eskimo" coastal cultures, or societies, in the western Arctic show some evidence of the use of whale products. Since the occurrence and behavior of bowhead and gray whales is generally predictable, and important correlation has existed historically between patterns in the occurrence of these whales and the frequency of the types and sizes of whales taken for food and building material. The evidence to suggest that whaling has been an active enterprise comes from the identification of whaling artifacts and implements and the remains of young whales, mostly calves and yearlings, in and around very ancient Native settlements (such Old Whaling Culture sites in the Chukchi Sea and much later Punuk Culture sites in the Bering Sea). One method to help clarify when ancient hunters began to actively whale is to compare the life history of large whales with the physical evidence (such as whale bones) from the chronological (aging) stratification of identified archaeological sites. This paper explores the movements and distribution of bowhead and gray whales in relation to known modern and ancient coastal settlements in the western U.S. and Russian Arctic. Further work proposed under a National Science Foundation joint U.S.-Russia Program, administered through the University of Arkansas and the University of Alaska, will explore site specific evidence for when and where directed whaling began, how this relates to other circumpolar archaeological sites, and the historical significance of whaling in the development of Native societies past and present.