The portion of the Oregon coast extending from Cape Blanco south
into California has long been recognized as a distinct physiographic region,
with probable ramifications for prehistoric subsistence and settlement
patterns. Several researchers have proposed models outlining a greater
reliance upon marine/littoral resources among groups within this region, while
more northerly groups exhibited a higher reliance upon estuarine resources.
Current knowledge about regional prehistoric subsistence practices,
based upon the archaeological record and ethnographic sources, was
correlated with the distribution and relative abundance of exploited and
potentially exploitable marine species. These data suggest that the abundant
coastal rocks and islands found along this section of the Oregon coast serve to
concentrate diverse and abundant animal resources within a confined area,
allowing for ease of exploitation. Therefore, the rocks and islands were of
potential economic importance to aboriginal groups.
To support this hypothesis archaeological subsurface testing was
undertaken on the only previously recorded offshore island site, and an
archaeological sample survey was conducted on additional rocks and islands
along this section of coastline to determine their utilization by native peoples.
Two additional prehistoric sites were recorded. The results of these
investigations are herein presented, and directions for future research are
discussed. / Graduation date: 1991
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/38083 |
| Date | 13 April 1990 |
| Creators | Gard, Howard A. |
| Contributors | Brauner, David R. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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