Applications of vertebral morphometrics in P acific I sland archaeological fishing studies

Significant differences between fish bone identification protocols inPacificIsland archaeology and other regions (e.g.Europe andNorthAmerica) have influenced the use of vertebral morphometrics for the reconstruction of fish length and weight. Fish vertebral morphometrics using vertebrae identified to taxon and type (e.g. caudal, thoracic) are routinely reported in the archaeological literature outside of thePacificIslands. Conversely, inPacificIsland archaeological fishing studies, vertebrae that are not identified to taxon have been utilised to assess change in average fish vertebrae size, and to reconstruct changes in fish length and weight over time. Using a fish bone assemblage from a prehistoric habitation site onEbonAtoll,Republic of theMarshallIslands, we report false trends when vertebrae – not identified to taxon and type – are used to assess differences in average vertebrae size among cultural layers. These results are compared to the same assemblage where taxon and vertebra type are used to more accurately determine fish size. It is essential that vertebrae fromPacificIsland fish bone assemblages are identified to taxon and type prior to assessing change in fish size over time, especially when investigating human impacts to finfish resources, capture technology or charting environmental change.