Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Summer 2017
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Cultural and Environmental Resource Management
Committee Chair
Patrick M. Lubinski
Second Committee Member
Steven Hackenberger
Third Committee Member
Roger Keirs
Fourth Committee Member
Megan Partlow
Abstract
The Anderson Creek archaeological site (45KP233) was excavated by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in 2015, as part of a fish passage replacement project in Puget Sound. Faunal analysis of remains from this excavation was completed by the author in collaboration with Dr. Megan Partlow. Analysis documented a variety of mammal and fish remains, consisting primarily of salmon, flatfishes, deer and elk. In addition to general faunal results reported to WSDOT, I discuss bone fragmentation, herring in regional sites, and the value of 1/16” fine screen sampling and analysis. To address the last, I compared fish identifications from excavation unit DR3 between the 1/8” and larger mesh fraction and the 1/16” fine mesh fraction. The fine mesh sample yielded larger numbers of bones identified, and a small but statistically significant difference in proportions of different fish groups. Given the high cost of recovery, sorting, and analysis of 1/16” samples, I recommend that it be used for only a small sample at shell midden sites like 45KP233 in the Salish Sea.
Recommended Citation
Holstine, Robert, "Vertebrate Faunal Analysis of The Anderson Creek Site (45KP233)" (2017). All Master's Theses. 708.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/708
Language
English