Quels sont les apports des analyses conjointes archéoentomologiques et archéobotaniques dans les contextes arctiques ?

Abstract

In the American Arctic, archaeoentomological and archaeobotanical research on paleo- and neo-Inuit hunter-gatherer sites has identified plant and insect remains that provide information on certain practices related to hygiene, food and space management in winter dwellings, and other uses. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of our combined analyses of archaeoentomological and archaeobotanical macroremains from the sleeping platform of a 14th century neo-Inuit winter dwelling at Cape Espenberg, Alaska. The analysis of invertebrates and plant remains from the fill and floor levels show a strong entomological and botanical signature of human activities. While the fill levels are characterized by insects and plants commonly found in the local environment, the floor shows a high concentration of invertebrates characteristic of organic rich spaces associated with plant species ethnohistorically known to have been consumed or used. These analyses reveal the potential of this method for the study of house spatial house management of semi-nomadic Arctic peoples.