FRUITS) Modeling of Hunter-Gatherer Diet in the Little Sea Micro-Region of Lake Baikal
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Seal or No Seal? A Bayesian (FRUITS) Modeling of Hunter-gatherer Diet in the Little Sea Micro-Region of Lake Baikal. by Talisha R. Chaput A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Anthropology University of Alberta © Talisha R. Chaput, 2019 Abstract The non-specific nature of stable isotope analysis limits interpretive assessments of diet to relative contributions of food sources. In an attempt to address this issue, scholars have focused on mixing models as a potential avenue to provide quantifiable measurements of dietary source contribution. FRUITS is currently a leading model on the market for the application of dietary questions in an archaeological context. The ability of FRUITS to consider non-isotopic priors is paramount to precise estimations in the field of archaeology. Previous work in the Baikal region of Russia has provided an excellent basis for more specific and targeted analyses such as this, which is primarily concerned with characterizing the diets of Early Bronze Age hunter-gatherers within the Little Sea micro-region. This analysis is guided by a set of four dietary hypotheses derived from the current state of literature in the Baikal region. Priors to constrain the model were created through assessment of physiological processes, ethnographic information, and zooarchaeological findings relevant to the subject. Results indicate that the Little Sea model provides estimations of the dietary contributions of the Game-Fish-Seal diet with moderate performance. As more GFS local individuals were rejected by the model than anticipated, further improvements to the parameters of the Little Sea model are evidently required. High plant and low fish contribution values to the overall diet contradict previous dietary conjectures. Game-Fish individuals responded as expected to the Little Sea model, as each individual was rejected or failed to produce results, indicating that they were not consuming Little Sea aquatic resources. Instead, the results suggest that the GF individuals were obtaining the aquatic element of their diet from elsewhere, likely from the Upper Lena micro-region. This suggests that the GFS and GF diet groups exploited foods originating from different ecological zones and ate variable amounts of similar resources despite their common burial location. ii Preface This thesis is an original work by Talisha Chaput. The Baikal Archaeological Project, of which this thesis is a part, received research ethics approval from the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board, Project Name “Holocene hunter-gatherers of Northeast Asia”, No. Pro00021280, February 2, 2017. No part of this thesis has been previously published. iii Acknowledgements This thesis is a product of hard work and dedication that has been supported, encouraged, and championed by an amazing network of friends, family, colleagues, and institutions. I will forever be grateful and humbled by the people who put their faith in me and contributed in their own ways to the completion of this thesis. First, thank you to my supervisor Andrzej Weber. You have given me the space and opportunity to grow professionally and personally through your mentorship and guidance. Your understanding and faith during this process gave me to confidence to push through. The graduate experience you have provided and facilitated goes beyond a simple thesis and has prepared me for the development of my professional career. I will forever be grateful to have been in your care. Thank you also to Andrea Hiob, Erin Jessup, and Olga Goriunova, of the Baikal- Hokkaido Archaeological Project, who have been supporting me through aid in administration and data procurement and interpretation. As the author of the software at the heart of this thesis, a special thank you to Ricardo Fernandes is needed. Your technical support and teachings of the processes involved with the modeling software was essential to my success. Also, thanks to the funding agencies and institutions that helped to bring this work to fruition through their generous financial support. This study was made possible through the University of Alberta which provided funding through the University of Alberta Recruitment Award, Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, and the Walter H. John’s Graduate Fellowship. A Graduate Student Teaching Assistantship under the guidance of Kisha Supernant supplemented the awards with income. This work was also funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council through the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Student iv Scholarship. The Government of Alberta contributed through the awarding of the Graduate Student Scholarship. I was also graciously awarded the Rosemary Shilling Finlay Scholarship by the University of Manitoba. Last, thank you to the continued support from the Baikal-Hokkaido Archaeological Project, which provided the opportunity for two research assistantships and covered all research and travel costs associated with conference presentations, workshops, and analysis. An additional thank you to the Faculty of Graduate Research and Studies, which provided an internship opportunity through the Graduate Student Internship Program. To my colleagues and friends; Kayleigh Watson, Helena Ramsaroop, Paula Peña Torres, Alexandra Rocca, Elizabeth Goldberg, and Alex Leteiller. Thank you for always supporting me in times of distress and de-stress. Your understanding and commiseration of the trials and tribulations of thesis writing helped me to put the process into perspective and persevere in times of self-doubt. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you to my parents Sylvia and Mike Bockstael, and in-laws Laura and Dennis Campbell. You have both always emphasized the importance of education and pushed me to succeed in what I love to do. Your patience and support throughout my undergraduate degree provided the most wonderful basis on which to continue my studies. You have been parents, therapists, friends, movers, financial windfall, and more. Thank you. Finally, to my beloved partner and husband, Mark Campbell. You are an endless source of patience, understanding, and overflowing love. It cannot be understated that this body of work would not exist today without you. Thank you for taking on the majority of the household management, cooking dinners, providing emotional support, dealing with my frequent absences, and the consistent encouragement while I worked to achieve my goal. You are everything I need. v Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... ii Preface .......................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. xii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ xv List of Equations ......................................................................................................................... xix Chapter 1: Introduction and Background .................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introductory Remarks ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Geographic Context ......................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Flora and Fauna ............................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Culture History of Cis-Baikal .......................................................................................... 6 Palaeolithic .......................................................................................................... 7 Mesolithic ............................................................................................................ 8 Neolithic .............................................................................................................. 8 Early Bronze Age .............................................................................................. 10 1.5 Previous Research .......................................................................................................... 11 Stage I: (1850–1959) ......................................................................................... 12 Stage II: (1959–1994) ........................................................................................ 13 Stage III: (1994–Present) ................................................................................... 14 1.6 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 21 Chapter 2: Literature Review .................................................................................................... 22 2.1 Introduction to Stable Isotopes .....................................................................................