Tracing Ainu and Pre-Ainu Cultural Continuity Through Cladistic Analysis of Faunal Assemblages

Cladistics (Hennig 1950, 1965, 1966), a method for establishing evolutionary relationships, is used to compare faunal assemblages from Jōmon (14,000-500 BC; 14,000–2700 cal. BP), Epi-Jōmon (3rd – 7th century; 2700-1500 cal. BP), Satsumon (7th century - 13th century AD; ca. 1500-800 cal. BP), and Ainu (13th century AD – present) period components (Habu et al. 2011; Matsumura 2006; Ōnishi 2014; Weber et al. 2013) from sites in Central Hokkaido, Japan using Generalized Frequency Coding methods (Smith & Gutberlet 2001). Associations of site components follow geographic rather than temporal trends, showing similarities in animal use across these time periods but differentiated between coastal lowland, inland lowland, and inland upland areas. Statistical analyses confirm the trends found in cladistic analysis. These findings suggest some level of cultural continuity across these time periods and important local environmental forces at work in shaping animal use.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Cultural and Environmental Resource Management

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Lowry, Christopher

Contributors dc:contributor

• Steven Hackenberger
• Karisa Terry
• Kathleen Barlow

• Cladistics
• Ainu
• Faunal Assemblages
• Central Hokkaido
• Archaeological Anthropology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/909

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1804