The Holocene exploitation of mammals in the Clearwater and lower Snake River regions of north-central Idaho

Abstract

The Clearwater River region of north-central Idaho is a distinct cultural region within the Columbia Plateau, yet no studies have comprehensively assessed the composition of recorded faunal assemblages to explore prehistoric subsistence practices by the region's Nez Perce people. We analyzed 27 Holocene zooarchaeological mammalian assemblages from 20 sites across the Clearwater and adjacent lower Snake River regions. A variety of leporids, rodents, carnivores, and artiodactyls were identified in assemblages, including several species (e.g. bison [Bison bison], pronghorn [Antilocapra americana], and grizzly bear [Ursus arctos]) no longer present in the study area. Taxonomic richness and taxonomic evenness suggest a specialized subsistence economy where one or two taxa were the focus of subsistence activities. Relative frequencies of mammals indicate that subsistence practices were focused disproportionately on large mammals (>25kg), and artiodactyl index values indicate subsistence practices were specialized on artiodactyls regardless of cultural phase. Across all artiodactyl species, however, only relative frequencies of deer (Odocoileus spp.) were negatively correlated with taxonomic evenness values. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that deer were a particularly important component of aboriginal diets in the Clearwater River region throughout most of the Holocene.