Exploitation of bird resources among prehistoric sea-nomad societies of the Beagle Channel region, southern South America

Abstract

The relationship between birds and prehistoric hunter-gatherer-fishers of the Beagle Channel region is analysed here. In this sense, the main goal of this paper is to characterise the utilisation of birds by these sea-nomad societies, and to explore changes and continuities of that relationship in early and recent periods of occupation. Data from eleven zooarchaeological assemblages divided into two periods are included in the analysis for comparative purposes. Results show that the late period (circa 1500-100 years BP) was characterised by an important increase in bird exploitation in comparison with earlier times (circa 6000-4000 years BP), and by changes in taxa selection. Consequently, these trends suggest changes in bird use patterns in the later periods, mostly characterised by massive captures of birds with high relative return rates (for example cormorants), and captures of taxa that usually have pelagic habits.