Abstract

Analysis of faunal remains; has led to a reconstruction of subsistence economy and seasons of occupation at the McNichol Creek site, a 1500 year-old village in Prince Rupert Harbour, British Columbia. Results support sorne existing ideas about prehistoric economy in the area, but conflict with others. Subsistence was based mainly on stored salmon, supplemented by shellfish, deer, and herring. Local environments in close proximity to the site were intensively exploited, but important resources from more distant locations, such as sea mammals and eulachon, were apparently not used. Seasonality analysis of shellfish confirms winter occupation, but also indicates an extended occupation of the site into early summer. The particular aspects of the subsistence and seulement pattern at McNichol Creek may be the result of lirnited or denied access to certain key resources, and may not be typical of contemporaneous village sites in the harbour area.