The Archaeology of Arctic Foodways

For millennia, Arctic peoples have thrived in harsh environments by maintaining close social, spiritual, and subsistence ties with animals.

The Circumpolar Arctic is one of the most challenging regions on the Earth for human occupation. This Element presents an entry point to ancient Arctic foodways authored by two archaeologists specializing in very different regions and cultural traditions.The Circumpolar Arctic is one of the most challenging regions on the Earth for human occupation. High levels of seasonal and spatial variability for all major food sources, combined with low species diversity, result in often limited options for subsistence. Despite these factors, an array of diverse societies thrived across the North. Grounded in profound spiritual and social relationships with animals, Arctic peoples pursued key resources such as caribou/reindeer, seals, whales, fish, and migratory waterfowl. This Element presents an entry point to ancient Arctic foodways authored by two archaeologists specializing in very different regions and cultural traditions. Based in part on the extraordinarily vibrant traditional knowledge of modern northerners, and the rich ethnographic record of the region, it emphasizes how the acquisition, processing, storage, consumption, and discard of food are visible in the archaeological record, and what this can tell us about past lifeways.