Would Be Left for Archaeologists to Find in One Thousand Years?
This essay asks you to interpret Netsilik butchery and carcass processing as human ecology, and to integrate previous course material with this week’s content on taphonomy. Your essay should be about five paragraphs long [one to one-and-a-half pages], with an introductory paragraph [starting with a topic sentence that characterizes your response or sets out an opinion that you will subsequently support]. The topic asks you to consider human ecology in its material and behavioral manifestations. You should also be thinking about economy—production, exchange, and consumption of materials—and some basic human biological needs, such as maintaining body temperature, nutrition, and social behaviors that will ensure human reproduction. This assignment does not rely on any additional research beyond the film and course materials. If you do use additional resources, you must include citations.
Utilize attached Course material and the following videos in essay:
https://www.nfb.ca/film/at_caribou_crossing_place_pt_1/
Assignment Notes and Important Questions:
Watching At the Caribou Crossing Place: Part 1
• This is an ethnographic model of foraging in a Tundra biome [in summer]
• Ethnography is a vignette—rich in visual detail, poor in historical context
• Foragers are pushed to the margins of human environments [tundra, desert]
• Students should look out for the following:
a] What tools are used?
b] What are the uses of caribou?
c] What would be left for archaeologists to find?
d] What do the Netsilik do when the caribou are not crossing? [During the film, students will observe the Netsilik seal-hunting in winter, gathering berries, preparing dried meat, hunting small game and birds, fishing, and repairing/making material culture—kayak, clothing, tent]
e] How was meat stored? Shared?
During the film, also pay attention to the following:
• A caribou has just been caught: this is a summer adaptation
• Butchery: note the division of labor in processing a kill
• Making a tool: what animal would this be used to hunt? [Answer: seal]
• Sucking bone marrow—a source of fats to help process protein
• What is drying on the tent lines? [Answer: meat; lines used for storage]
• The use of teeth as tools, mention that many peoples/cultures used teeth as tools
• Making with skins—what items are made of caribou hide? [Answer: tent; kayak?; clothing; quiver]
• Bone tools; buttons; toys; uses of bone; discard of bone; breaking bone for marrow
• A child learning to kill a bird—cultural transmission of adaptation is special to humans; animals depend on genetic transmission of adaptation
• A child practicing killing skills on skull—another example of cultural transmission of adaptation
Excellent [A]
Applies general principles on human ecology and adaptation with specific details from film, lecture, and readings; recognizes range of foraging across seasons and across cultures and history; demonstrates understanding of bone taphonomy; organizes and integrates all.
Very Good [B]
Discusses general principles and applies some details; demonstrates understanding of bone taphonomy; integrates some concepts and some supporting evidence in interpretation; good grammar and spelling.
Average [C]
Reproduces concepts and evidence to illustrate an essay; uncritically follows class material without evident analytical insight, organization, or application; essay is relevant to course; spelling and grammar mistakes
Poor [D]
Weak and incorrect/ incomplete reproduction of concepts and evidence; strays from course context; problematic grammar and spelling.
Unacceptable [F]
No effort; plagiarism; irrelevant to topic; if any sentence lacks a verb = automatic FAIL. 65 significant excellent grammar and spelling.
