Archaeology and ethnobiology of Late Holocene bird remains from the northern Oregon coast

Abstract

Archaeological bird remains from the Oregon coast provide important insight into local environments and the interactions between birds and people on the North American Pacific Coast. We contribute to this discussion with an analysis of bird remains from the Late Holocene Par‐Tee site (35CLT20) in Seaside, Oregon. We sampled the Par‐Tee avifaunal assemblage to near‐redundancy, generating the largest sample from a single site on the Oregon Coast to date (N = 7204). The Par‐Tee assemblage is dominated by nearshore or estuarine birds including scoters (Melanitta spp.) and Common Murres (Uria aalge), as well as pelagic Sooty Shearwaters (Ardenna grisea). Because of the large size of the sample, we identified unique species such as the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus), which are currently endangered and face conservation challenges. Although the Par‐Tee avifaunal assemblage is diverse, site residents appear to have focused on acquiring the most accessible species in the nearshore habitat complemented by opportunistic pelagic hunting and/or scavenging of beached birds. Most birds appear to have been processed for dietary consumption, with possible preferential use of larger‐winged birds for tool manufacture. These findings underscore the value and challenges of using legacy collections for evaluating past human–environmental interactions in coastal and other aquatic regions.