Abstract

Size selectivity of fishing gear and catastrophic mortality profiles have been used as models to test hypotheses regarding (1) the natural or cultural origin of archaeological fish assemblages, and (2) the types of fishing gear that may have been employed in harvesting fish. Although such models provide a useful framework within which to interpret archaeological fish remains, it is important that they be applied with careful attention to fish population structure and behaviour, and to archaeological and environmental factors. A case study from the Great Basin of North America is used to illustrate both the strengths and weaknesses of gear selectivity models and catastrophic mortality profiles in the interpretation of archaeological fish bone assemblages.

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