Aboriginal Subsistence and Settlement Archaeology of the Kings Bay Locality

The data and analysis presented here has the advantage of building on a history of archaeological and zooarchaeological research in this area (Reitz 1982a; Smith et al. 1981) as well as research in neighborin5 localities like St. Simons Island, Georgia (Marrinan 1975; Reitz 1982a, 1982b). The benefit of these earlier studies is that methodological problems could be clearly seen and the challenge to overcome at least some of these problems is presented. Some of the major challenges we attempted to meet were: - a more accurate assessment of the potential contribution of the vertebrates and invertebrates to the prehistoric diet; - a more complete recovery of the smaller elements in the fauna; - improve and expand methods for estimating potential meat contribution of the animals represented; and - apply methods now being developed for ga1.n1.ng seasonal data from 1.ncremental growth lines on molluscs. With these data in hand it is possible to learn more about human adaptations to use of this estuarine environment and to more accurately assess the relative abundance of vertebrates and invertebrates represented in the prehistoric diet. Detailed information is now available on seasonal aspects of occupation for these sites, on the exploitation of animal resources, on the habitats most important in the food quest, and on the likely technologies employed in hunting, fishing, and gathering. The following chapters will cover background information about the environment and animal resources available to the inhabitants of Kings Bay, the methods employed in studying the faunal remains, the faunal data resulting from identifications and quantification, and the interpretation of these results.