Archaeology of whaling in the Arctic prehistory

Feng, Qu (2025) Archaeology of whaling in the Arctic prehistory. Advances in Polar Science, 36 (3). pp. 171-178.

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Abstract

This paper explores the archaeology of whaling in Arctic prehistory, focusing on the emergence and development of whaling as a central component of cultural ecology among prehistoric Inuit and related societies. Drawing on archaeological evidence from key sites across Alaska, the Chukchi Peninsula, and the Bering Strait region, the study examines how whaling technologies and practices evolved alongside climatic fluctuations, ecological shifts, and social transformations. Integrating ethnographic insights and paleoclimatic data, the study argues that Inuit engagement with whales was not only a subsistence strategy but a long-term, historically contingent relationship that shaped and was shaped by broader cultural systems.

Item Type:	Article
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Keywords:	Arctic whaling, Inuit subsistence, archaeology, cultural ecology, formation of social organizations
Subjects:	Natural Environment > Oceans Natural Resources and Industry > Fisheries Peoples, Cultures and Societies > Heritage and Culture Peoples, Cultures and Societies > Indigenous Peoples
Organizations:	Advances in Polar Science (APS)
Date Deposited:	19 Nov 2025 10:01
URI:	https://library.arcticportal.org/id/eprint/2902

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