Driven to the brink of extinction during the nineteenth century commercial fur and oil trade, northern elephant seal NES, Mirounga angustirostris populations now exceed animals in the northeast Pacific from Alaska to Baja California. Because little is known about the biogeography and ecology of NES prior to the mid-nineteenth century, we synthesize and analyze the occurrence of NES remains in North American archaeological sites. Comparing these archaeological data with modern biogeographical, genetic, and behavioral data, we provide a trans-Holocene perspective on NES distribution and abundance.
Compared with other pinnipeds, NES bones are relatively rare throughout the Holocene, even in California where they currently breed in large numbers. Low numbers of NES north of California match contemporary NES distribution, but extremely low occurrences in California suggest their abundance in this area was very different during the Holocene than today. We propose four hypotheses to explain this discrepancy, concluding that ancient human settlement and other activities may have displaced NES from many of their preferred modern habitats during much of the Holocene.
Skip to main content. Where were the northern elephant seals? Holocene archaeology and biogeography of Mirounga angustirostris. Vol 21, Issue 7, pp. Download Citation If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Via Email All fields are required. Send me a copy Cancel. Request Permissions View permissions information for this article. Rick 1 Torben C. Braje 4 Todd J. Article first published online: June 1, ; Issue published: November 1, Received: July 03, ; Accepted: Rick 1 , Robert L.
DeLong 2 , Jon M. Erlandson 3 , Todd J. Braje 4 , Terry L.
Jones 5 , Jeanne E. Arnold 6 , Matthew R. Des Lauriers 7 , William R. Hildebrandt 8 , Douglas J. Vellanoweth 9 , Thomas A. Abstract Full Text Abstract. Keywords historical ecology , human—environmental interactions , marine conservation , Pacific Coast , pinniped , Phocidae.
Remember me Forgotten your password? Subscribe to this journal. Vol 21, Issue 7, Tips on citation download. Journal of Mammalogy 2: For more than ten thousand years, Native Americans from Alaska to southern California relied on aquatic animals such as seals, sea lions, and sea otters for food and raw materials. Archaeological research on the interactions between people and these marine mammals has made great advances recently and provides a unique lens for understanding the human and ecological past. Archaeological research is also emerging as a crucial source of information on contemporary environmental issues as we improve our understanding of the ancient abundance, ecology, and natural history of these species.
This groundbreaking interdisciplinary volume brings together archaeologists, biologists, and other scientists to consider how archaeology can inform the conservation and management of pinnipeds and other marine mammals along the Pacific Coast. He is the coeditor, with Jon M. View other products from the same publisher.
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