Prehistoric Subsistence Patterns in the Fraser Delta: The Evidence from the Glenrose Cannery Site

The aboriginal people of the Northwest Coast had a way of life that was unique among hunters and gatherers, including such unusual traits as inherited social rank, large winter villages, division of labour, large social units and elaborate art. Likewise, salmon fishing and the hunting of seamammals are not common among hunters and gatherers and, in fact, the special subsistence pattern is usually thought to be responsible in some way for the other unusual aspects of the regional ethnographic culture (e.g., Drucker, 1955a:3). In published theories about the origin of Northwest Coast culture we often find a major concern with subsistence patterns. The Asian migration theories of Drucker (1955b) and, at times, Borden (1951) have the maritime subsistence pattern introduced by Eskimoid migration. Other views suggest that Northwest Coast culture, including the subsistence pattern, is basically an indigenous development. According to this perspective, espoused by Kroeber (1939) and, at times, Borden (1962, 1968), the development of the Northwest Coast pattern took place in situ without major external influences. Implicitly, in this view, the subsistence pattern developed first and, by some mechanism, later allowed the other soeiocultural aspects to come into being. On the southern coast of British Columbia, development of the local ethnographic pattern is thought to have been fully attained by at least 1500 B.P. at the beginning of the last of phase, called San Juan, Stselax, Late, Developed Coast Salish and Gulf of Georgia by different workers in this area. The preceding Marpole phase (1500-2400 B.P.) is also thought to be broadly similar. The third oldest phase, Locarno Beach (2400-3200 B.P.), is very much an unknown in terms of subsistence pattern, but workers have suggested that it too is basically similar to that of the ethnographic Northwest Coast (see Borden, 1970; Matson, 1974; Mitchell, 1971a for further details). Examples of older occupations include components dating ca. 5000-3000 B.P. and variously called the St. Mungo, Mayne or Charles phase. One