Neolithic seal exploitation on the Åland Islands in the Baltic Sea on the basis of epiphyseal fusion data and metric studies

• Published in: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
• Main Author: Storå, Jan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2002
• Subjects: Harp Seal; Phoca groenlandica; Phoca hispida; ringed seal
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/oa.612; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Foa.612; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/oa.612

Abstract The exploitation of marine resources was of central importance in the subsistence economy on the Åland Islands during the Stone Age. In this study four faunal assemblages from archaeological sites which date to approximately 3300–1800 cal BC are discussed. On all sites seals clearly dominate the mammal fauna with the harp seal ( Phoca groenlandica ) as the most common species followed by the ringed seal ( Phoca hispida ). Epiphyseal fusion data and metric comparisons are used to reconstruct the strategies humans used to exploit seals. The results show that the main prey were yearlings and adults and that seasonal hunting strategies were implemented. Ringed seal was hunted on the breeding grounds in late winter. Harp seal was hunted during a longer period of the year, from late spring until early winter. Differences in the hunting strategies directed toward the two species appear to be related to behavioral patterns of the seals. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.