Abstract

A trend in general opportunism is apparent in most northern Iroquoian faunal assemblages, but these also stress the importance of some specific mammalian and fish species. Faunal profiles indicate that White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was a major prey item in Iroquoian econorny and it is often the most numerous mammalian species identified, but its relative importance might be exaggerated due to preservation factors and recovery methods. Faunal reports comprising analyzed White-tailed deer remains from a variety of sites dating to Late Middle Woodland and Late Woodland periods will be examined and compared in order to trace patterns in deer exploitation in northern Iroquoia. Synchronic differences in the economic importance of deer hunting activities among northern Iroquoian groups as well as possible dia-chronic changes leading towards an apparent intensification of deer exploitation will be assessed.