Abstract

The 1999 and 2000 Tseshaht Archaeological Project excavations at Ts'ishaa Village on Benson Island, Barkley Sound, B.C., provided evidence of the hunting of fur seals in Barkley Sound over the past 2,000 years. The fur seal remains from this site include a number of individuals classed as young juveniles. This paper explores the implications of the presence of young juveniles in the archaeological sample in terms of precontact Barkley Sound fur seal population structure, pupping habits, migratory behaviour, species affiliation and interaction with human populations. Biological studies of fur seal ecology and behaviour as well as historical and ethnographic information relating to fur seal presence and exploitation in the Barkley Sound region provide a context for the analysis.