233 Appendix II An Analysis of the Fauna From Civa Shelter II, Lincoln County, Nevada by Lorrie D. Northey Department of Anthropology University of Chicago Civa Shelter II, excavated by a University of California field party under the direction of Colin I. Busby, yielded a large quantity of vertebrate faunal remains (43,482 bones and fragments). These are for the most part fragmentary and only one- sixth (7675 specimens) are identifiable to species. A preliminary survey of the mammalian remains indicates that small to medium-sized mammals, particularly jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) are most abundant, although bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemoinus) and a larger bovid (possibly Bison bison) are also present, along with the remains of several carnivores. The Civa II fauna is of particular interest because of the apparent abundance of jackrabbit. Investigations focusing on subsistence in the Great Basin have until now dealt primarily with faunas containing an abundance of bighorn and cottontail (e.g., Kobori, In press; Thomas 1969, 1972; Fowler 1968). Steward (1938), in his study of Great Basin aboriginal groups, has observed that such species are best hunted singly, through stalking in the case of the former, and trapping in the case of the latter. Civa Shelter II is unique in providing an opportunity for examining an occupation in which the dominant food resource is part of Steward's (1938) antelope/jackrabbit complex, characterized generally by communal hunts (often in the form of massive seasonal drives). An analysis of the Civa II fauna thus offers the potential for gaining a better understanding of the effects of subsistence on settlement patterning and social organization among Great Basin groups by contributing more information for use in testing Steward's (1938) hypotheses. The analysis which follows will therefore focus on evidence for local environ- ment during the period of occupation; subsistence patterns and seasonality; and if possible, evidence regarding butchery techniques and site function. Method The faunal remains included in this analysis come from 10 2m2 pits excavated in 10 cm arbitrary levels, and were recovered largely from 1/4"1 mesh screen. Although the particular nature of the deposits made excavation in terms of natural stratigraphic units difficult, the use of these arbitrary units does present some problems for 234 quantitative analysis. Prominent among these problems is the combination of the samples recovered into meaningful units for the determination of species frequencies and analysis of skeletal element representation. A preliminary analysis of the Civa II fauna (Northey 1978) found that calculations of Minimum Numbers of Individuals (MNI) are affected greatly by the nature of the particular units selected for study. A pit by pit, level by level analysis (Grayson's "maximum distinction" approach (1978: 60)) was found for example to minimize the chance of grouping samples from different levels across the site; however because of the small sample sizes involved, the resulting species frequencies are skewed in the direction of larger species represented by relatively fewer bones. This is also the case when the analysis was conducted in terms of arbitrary 10 cm levels across the site (Northey 1978: 433). Remains of larger species such as bighorn and bison would appear to be spread over a relatively larger area than those belonging to smaller species such as jackrabbit and are therefore overemphasized when arbitrary units are considered. In an attempt to combine the samples into more meaningful units for analysis, dental remains belonging to Ovis canadensis were matched on the basis of eruption and wear, and the samples were grouped accordingly. Three units result from this grouping. Unit I consists of surface material and levels 1-2; Unit II consists of levels 3-5; and Unit III comprises levels 6-8. It should be emphasized that because of the fragmentary nature of the dental and postcranial remains identified, these groupings are tentative. However, comparisons of the frequency of faunal remains with the stratigraphic distri- butions plotted for pottery and lithic artifact frequencies (Busby 1978) show significant variation in the relative abundance of both artifactual and faunal material corresponding to points in the stratigraphic sequence defined by Units I-III, thereby supporting their use as a basis for analysis. The Minimum Numbers of Individuals computed for each species for Units I, II and III are presented in Table 1. Along with these figures, calculations of the percen- tage of useable meat contributed by selected species are presented as well. There are once again numerous problems associated with this approach (Stewart and Stahl 1977), and these figures should be viewed with caution. They are presented primarily for the purpose of providing a basis for comparison when discussing the relative abundance of species of differing sizes. Particularly in the case of comparisions involving jackrabbit and larger bovids such as bighorn and bison, Minimum Numbers of Individuals are somewhat misleading. In terms of dietary importance, one jackrabbit for example cannot possibly make a contribution equal to that of abighorn sheep. Thus, although there are numerous inaccuracies involved in the use of useable meat figures, they do serve to suggest general patterns which can be used, along with other data to provide a general picture upon which some preliminary conclusions concerning subsistence can be based. Discussion As summarized in Table 1, the mammalian species present (and particularly the smaller animals such a Neotoma lepida, Citellus townsendii, Thomomys talpoides and 235 Sylvilagus nuttalli and Sylvilagus idahoensis) are typically characteristic of the Upper Sonoran Life Zone, and are commonly found in dry, brushy areas (cf. Hall 1946). The occurrence of Sorex merriami in Unit II (20-50 cm) is consistent with this, since it is often found on dry hillsides amid sagebrush (Hall 1946: 114). Two species, Spilogale purtorius, the spotted skunk, and Neotoma lepida, the desert wood rat, are commonly found in rocky, more sheltered environments (e.g., the immediate vicinity of the site), and the former in particular may have occupied the site during a period of abandonment by the human occupants. Of special interest as well is the occurrence of Vulpes macrotis throughout the site. Normally characterized by a low zonal position in or below the Upper Sonoran Life Zone, it is commonly found in more open areas, generally on the lower valley floors (e.g., the neighboring Garden and Coal Valleys (Hall 1946: 233)). As was observed initially, Lepus californicus is the most abundant of the mammals present throughout the history of the occupation of the site in terms of the number of individuals represented (although, because of its size, its contribution in terms of pounds of useable meat is somewhat less than that of the larger mammals such as Ovis canadensis; see Table 1). Clearly, the occupants of the shelter were concentrating heavily on this animal as a major source of food and raw material (e. g., for the manu- facture of bone beads) and ethnographic data (summarized in Steward 1938) indicate that it was the object of regular communal hunts. "Its habitat was open, sage covered valleys. Its speed and ability to hide made it difficult to hunt with the bow and arrow, but the large and rapidly multiplying herds rewarded communal hunting. Drives were held throughout most of the area and were the most important communal activity. The usual plan was to place a number of long, low nets end to end in a vast semi-circle many hundred yards in diameter. A large crowd, often including the women and children, then beat the brush, driving the animals into the nets where they were dispatched?? Steward 1938: 38). In the neighboring Railroad Valley, and in the Steptoe and Spring Valleys further north, these drives were generally held in the Fall, around November, lasting from six weeks to two months (Steward 1938: 119). The number of people involved appears to have varied. In the Railroad Valley drives, a number of villages were commonly involved, whereas participants in the northern drives generally came from one or a few villages (Steward 1938: 122). In the case of Civa Shelter H, the number of people involved is difficult to estimate. The size of the shelter and the nature and extent of the various occupation horizons would tend however to argue against a major winter camp. Rather, a more reasonable interpretation might view this as a late Fall - early Winter camp occupied by one or two families (Busby 1978). Although limited in number when compared with the great abundance of 236 jackrabbit at the site, the larger mammals (Ovis canadensis, Odocoileus hemionus and Bos taurus or Bison bison) would appear to contribute a large proportion of the meat potentially used by the occupants of Civa H (see Table 1). In Unit I for example roughly 300 lbs. of useable meat is contributed by bighorn sheep, compared to 197 lbs. contri- buted by jackrabbit. The amount of meat contributed by these species is more or less equal in Units II and II. Whether the hunting and initial butchery of the larger bovids was carried out in the vicinity of the site or at another locality is difficult to say. Certain discrepancies in the frequencies of various body parts (Table 2) would appear to suggest the operation of a "Schlepp Effect", particularly in the case of Bos or Bison. Comparisons of the skeletal element frequencies obtained for Lepus californicus and Ovis canadensis suggest however that the discrepancies observed may be related more to bone durability than deliberate selection. Of the body parts represented belonging to these species, more durable elements such as teeth, distal humeri, distal tibiae, innominates, calcanea and other tarsal bones are most common. Of particular interest among these large mammal remains are those which have been tentatively assigned to Bos taurus in the upper levels of the site, and Bison bison in the lower (given the absence of evidence indicating any disturbance of the lower deposits). These large bovid remains are comprised solely of very fragmentary post- cranial elements (belonging primarily to the manus and pes); therefore, the precise taxonomic assignment can be debated. Although bison has not been reported in the area during historic times (Hall 1946: 644), its presence in neighboring archaeological sites has recently been suggested (Fowler 1968). However, until more faunal samples are obtained and hopefully some dentitions and less fragmentary postcranial elements are recovered, its occurrence in the area should be viewed as no more than a possibility. It is clear, however, that these large bovids were hunted elsewhere and only certain parts of the carcass (I. e., lower limbs and feet) were brought back to the site. It is noteworthy here as well that most of the specimens provisionally assigned to Bos taurus and Bison bison belong to immature individuals, and this is true of at least one-half of the bighorn remains as well. The sample is, however, too small and fragmentary to obtain age distributions which might provide some additional infor- mation regarding the season of occupation, and all that can really be said at the moment is that there would appear to have been some degree of emphasis on younger individuals. Medium-size carnivores such as Canis latrans and Lynx rufus have also been identified in the site. Although evidence at Slivovitz Shelter (cf. Kobori 1978) and elsewhere in the Great Basin (Kobori, Dh press) suggest that Lynx rufus may have been hunted as a food source, there is little direct evidence at Civa II to suggest that this was the case. In fact, there is some evidence suggesting the contrary in the less fragmentary nature of some of the postcranial remains recovered (particularly in Unit I of N12W2 where an articulated radius and ulna were recovered along with several bones of the manus), when compared to the almost universally broken-up limb bones of the other medium-size mammal present (Lepus californicus), not to mention the larger mammals in the site. It is interesting to note here, however, that several of the 237 metapodial fragments belonging to both Lynx rufus and Canis latrans exhibit cut/saw marks done apparently while the bone was still relatively fresh, suggesting the use of the shafts for other purposes (possibly for the production of bone beads). Of the small mammals present, Sylvilagus nuttalli is the most common, followed by Neotoma lepida, Citellus sp., Thomomys talpoides, Cricetid mice and Sorex merriami. Unlike Slivovitz Shelter, rodent activity did not appear to have been too intense, and there are very few bones showing evidence of chewing or gnawing. Burnt bone forms only a small part of the total (756 bones, or 1. 7%). The burnt pieces which have been identified belong primarily to the larger species and there is very little burnt bone in the sample of Lepus californicus. This can probably be related to the manner in which the jackrabbits were prepared and cooked, and as was suggested by Kobori (In press) for Ezrats Retreat, the meat was possibly stripped prior to cooking or the animals were cooked whole in their skins. Summary Despite the fragmentary nature of the faunal remains and the problems encountered with respect to sampling and subsequent attempts at quantitative analysis, certain observations can be made concerning local environment and subsistence patterns during the period of occupation of Civa Shelter II. The great abundance of jackrabbit would suggest that it was the scene of repeated communal rabbit hunts or drives, very likely occurring in the late Fall as has been reported for various Shoshone groups in the vicinity (Steward 1938). The nature of the site would not appear to support the possibility of a major winter camp in the immediate vicinity, and it is probably better viewed as the Fall camping spot of one or two nuclear families concentrating on the hunting of jack- rabbits (either by drives or through snaring) and to a lesser extent bighorn in the surrounding areas. The mammalian fauna found within the deposits is not unlike the local fauna observed today. Of particular interest is the occurrence of very large bovid postcranial remains in the lower levels of tie site which may be tentatively referred to as Bison bison. It is probable that as more research is conducted in this area and more faunal samples are recovered through excavation, the presence of bison in the area will be more securely documented. 238 Table 1 - Species Frequencies and Useable Meat 1 (Units I, TI, III) Bone# % MNI lbs/kg Useable Meat % Unit I (Surface - 20 cm) Ovis canadensis Odocoileus hemionus Bos taurus Canis latrans Lynx rufus Vulpes macrotis Lepus californicus Sylvilagus nuttalli Spilogale purtorius Neotoma lepida Thomomys talpoides Citellus townsendii Citellus sp. Cricetid Small/Medium Mammal Snake Tortoise Bird 142 4 10 33 13 1 1323 346 1 23 4 7 2 1 138 500 1(?) 3 5.45 0.15 .38 1.27 0.50 0.04 50.77 13.28 0.04 0.88 0.15 0.27 0.08 0.04 5.30 19.19 0.04 0.12 3 1 1 2 1 1 87 18 1 8 3 3 2 1 2606 100.00 132 300.00/136.08 100.00/ 45.46 400.00/181.44 25.00/ 11.34 14.00/ 6.80 196.62/ 89.61 14.04/ 6.30 0.42/ 0.19 0.68/ 0.76 0.42/ 0.19 1.05/ 0.48 0.56/ 0.25 _____________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ -_ _____________ 1053.79/478.90 Unit II (20-50 cm) Ovis canadensis Odocoileus hemionus Bos taurus Canis latrans Lynx rufus Vulpes macrotis Lepus californicus Sylvilagus nuttalli Sylvilagus idahoensis Neotoma lepida Citellus townsendii Citellus sp. Cricetid Sorex merriami 229 6 39 75 14 1 2415 355 2 35 3 7 1 1 6.00 0.16 1.02 1.97 0.37 0.03 63.30 9.31 0.05 0.91 0.08 0.18 0.03 0.03 3 1 1 2 1 1 134 22 1 9 1 4 I 1 300.00/136.08 100.00/ 45.46 400.00/181.44 25.00/ 11.34 14.00/ 6.80 _____________ 302. 84/138.02 17.16/ 7.70 0.40/ 0.18 1.80/ 0.86 0.35/ 0.16 1.12/ =0.50 _____________ _____________ Unit 28.47 9.49 37.96 2.37 1.33 18.66 1.33 0.04 0.16 0.04 0.10 0.05 100.00 25.82 8.61 34.43 2.15 1.21 _____ 26.07 1.48 0.03 0.07 0.03 0.10 Unit I (20 - 50 cm) % MNI Thomomys talpoides Small/Medium Mammal Snake Bird 3 203 401 8 0.08 5.32 10.51 0.21 1 0.14/ 0.04 _ ___________ _____ ___ ____ 100.00 182 1161. 78/528. 58 Unit II (50-80 cm) Ovis canadensis Odocoileus hemionus Bos taurus/Bison bison Canis latrans Lynx rufus Vulpes macrotis Lepius californicus Sylvilagus nuttalli Neotoma lepida Thomomys talpoides Small/Medium Mammal Snake 61 2 2 8 7 1 824 123 3 5 50 147 4.90 0.16 0.16 0.64 0.56 0.08 66.13 9.87 0.24 0.08 4.01 11.80 2 1 1 1 1 1 63 13 3 1 100.00/ 90.72 100.00/ 45.46 400.00/181.44 12.50/ 5.67 14.00/ 6.80 ______________ 142.38/ 64.89 10.14/ 4.55 0.63/ 0.29 0.28/ 0.13 _ ___ ___ _____ _____________ 100.00 89 880. 21/400.03 1 The average weight figures employed are those computed previously by L. S. Kobori (In press). Unit 239 Bone# lbs/kg Useable Meat% 0.01 _ _ __ _____ 3815 100.00 22.72 11.36 45.44 1.42 1.59 16.18 1.15 0.07 0.03 _____ _____ 1246 100.00 so2ut1?tI llpodwela Lunqueol-D snj-u2u.lsv ,ulnqlj -qSTp -elqTS xojd vi3qL 1IS!P JflL-UOd *xojd JnfTual owBUTuoUUI -sIp snTp-gI *xojd SnTpetE XSTp SnfJ9uH *xojd snTaJumnH slnd3oS sqTm otIJqolJoA VIITX,eN I-lEIu1A 3 cq1 I I r- r cq r- -4 I H cl I I q cM I I I H I I I I I I I '-4 '-.4 C') 0 00 '-4 I I - I t oo I I I I 0 '-.4 '-4l '-4q I I I I - cl r- I y-4 r-4 C cl '-4l I I -I I 0- cq I I I I 0) P-4 y-4 I * * * ri I I C- I I '-.4 U) a) c) C) U) -.-4 0 * * I I Cl 00 I:- 00 '--4 00 '-4 0) Coo Ce) U)( ) U)c ro U)U)cdUl C) C.)I, 0 4 n 240 C.) 0 Cl cli a) C.) C) 00 U) -4 a) I' cd "0 Cl a1) Cd a) C) Cd U) 4- -4 -_4 Cd Cd a) N U) Ss "0 V-4 a) 4- a) U) C2) -V-4 C) 0 C) a) 00 * * 00 cl z r- 11 Cd C.o .11 rCl 3 2 II "0 1Cl II ^ -_ 11 M -4 Cd I ..a) U) _ * * * r--l I I I r i r c soar1ql,l SjVTPodu34aJA peda o/susauj, ?TnquI o4sip vTqFS, exoad 7aquL 1STP anJlaO *xo.d anJLuaj OWBTLUIOUUI ;sJp sfl!p1e *xojd snTpVj ISIP SnlJauJTH *xo.d snuItTlH tl?ndvoS sq!g O1?JqO3JOA aXq!pUt? 113UEBJD cI I I I I I I C%l I I I I I I '-- I * * I I r- I * Cl 00 00 N cl 0 oo 00 cl C5) Ndq to 1:-i CL cl LO 00 * * * 0 00 0 I r-i I T--q I I r-i I r-I CO 0 Cl * * * Cl Cl CO C l ) C O CO.) O C CO 0 a1) CO0 a d >~ z Po 10 0cd a1) 0 o pqu~ 241 CO CO C) 0 to 0 Cl I- CO C) a) 1-4 0 I Cl a) H.. Cl Cl ClI *q Cl Cl- Cd 00 ~C) zI i5CO~ Il) c :'-4 EM 4 -a) * ** 7 C,) C) ao C') Cd C14 1 r-? V-4 r-4 cq T--q I I I I I I I I V--f r-i I I I I I I I I r--i I sa2u1lulqd S!TpodtlaXl s1idJisD/sWesJsI. snl-82valsv vlnqJd -IST.p 13TqTS *xo.d viqvL 4STp JnxUai *xojd anuiaj 9WUTtUOUUI *4sTp SnTpe)j *xojd SnTPVI -STp SfJOUMH *xojd snIJ9UmH 1?Indl3oS sqTlt OBJqa4*JOA a'qTpuielw 'I13IxN IVTTTXK I I r4 T4 r- - '-4 '-4l I I f- I 00 r-4 I I I I I r-i r-4 I I I I I I I C0 I C.0 't I I I I r- I cs I r-4 I r I II 0) I I 0 '-4 - I C0 I I 00 I I 00 '--4 '-4 * C-1 ._ 25 a1) C) I U2 -_ 0 I I I I I r-i I I I * * H I I I l ,- 1-4 I I I CD '-4 to LO CD * dq cs co cV) o to 0 a) 0 mt uo~ 242 c0 c0 c: 0 00 00 I: ~-4 .-1 CI a) H. toi *l 11 10) 00 - *: z II a) - 0 11 (1 W- -) rI C .. a) - S * * ~ * *n * I Il I I I I I I I Il I 243 Acknowledgements I wish to thank Colin I. Busby for giving me the opportunity to analyze the Civa II fauna anf for his continued assistance and support throughout the project. Much of the analysis was carried out in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, and the cooperation and assistance offered by the Museum staff has been greatly appreciated. References Cited Busby, C.I. 1978 The Prehistory and Human Ecology of Garden and Coal Valleys, Southeastern Nevada. Ph. D. dissertation, University of Calibrnia, Berkeley. Fowler, D. D. 1968 The Archaeology of Newark Cave, White Pine County, Nevada. Desert Research Institute Publications in the Social Sciences 3. Grayson, D.K. 1973 On the Methodology of Faunal Analysis. American Antiquity 38: 432- 439. 1978 Minimum Numbers and Sample Size in Vertebrate Faunal Analysis. American Antiquity 43: 53-65. Hall, R.E. 1946 The Mammals of Nevada. Berkeley: University of California Press. Kobori, L. S. 1978 Analysis of Two Fragmented Faunal Assemblages: Slivovitz Rockshelter and Avocado Rockshelter. In: The Prehistory and Human Ecology of Garden and Coal Valleys, C.I. Busby. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley. In press A Faunal Analysis of Ezra's Retreat. In: Ezra's Retreat: A Rockshelter/Cave Occupation Site in the North Central Great Basin, J. C. Bard, C. I. Busby and L. S. Kobori. University of California, Berkeley, Archaeological Research Facility. Northey, L.D. 1978 An Analysis of the Fauna from Civa Shelter II, Lincoln County, Nevada. In: The Prehistory and Human Ecology of Garden and Coal Valleys, C. I. Busby. Ph. D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley. 244 Perkins, D., Jr. and P. Daly 1968 The Potential of Faunal Analysis. An Investigation of the Faunal Remains from Suberde, Turkey. Scientific American 219(5): 96-106. Steward, J. H. 1938 Basin-Plateau Aboriginal Sociopolitical Groups. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 120. Stewart, F. L. and P. W. Stahl 1977 Cautionary Note on Edible Meat Poundage Figures. American Antiquity 42: 267-270. Thomas, D.H. 1969 Great Basin Hunting Patterns: A Quantitative Method for Treating Faunal Remains. American Antiquity 34: 392-401. 1972 A Computer Simulation Model of Great Basin Shoshonean Subsistence and Settlement Patterns. In: Models in Archaeology, D. L. Clarke (ed.), pp. 671-704. London: Methuen and Company.