Archaeological and Historical Evidence for an 18th-Century "Blip" in the Distribution of the Northern Fur Seal at Kodiak Island, Alaska

Abstract

Recovery of fur seal Callorhinus ursinus remains from archaeological sites on Kodiak Island, Alaska, shows a low harvest prior to late prehistoric and early historic time. Then there is a pronounced increase in the frequency of fur seal bones in refuse layers. Russian records do not show any significant take of fur seals from Kodiak, but by the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the next century there are reports that this animal, formerly abundant in the area, had become rare. This may indicate that conditions had reverted to their earlier prehistoric state.

Key words: Alaska, fur seals, archaeology, osteo-archaeology