Dissertation Research: The Origin and Maintenance of Ranked Society in Tebenkof Bay, Southeast Alaska

在Michael Jochim博士的指导下，赫伯特马施纳先生将在阿拉斯加东南部的Tebenkof湾地区进行博士论文研究。Maschner先生以前的工作表明，在这个有限的地区存在着七个考古遗址，从小到大。他认为，居住者是今天居住在该地区的美洲土著特林吉特人的祖先。他将绘制所有七个地点的地图，并在其中四个地点进行挖掘。初步工作表明，所有这些地区都有房屋凹陷，将在选定的样本中挖掘一系列1x1米的测试坑。还将从房屋前后的垃圾堆积物中收集一些柱状样品。由此产生的材料将允许网站的日期，并提供有关社会组织和饮食的信息。希望这些参数的变化可以随着时间的推移而跟踪。还将对更广泛的区域进行调查，以寻找其他地点，并绘制资源采购区的地图。这个项目非常有趣，因为它将揭示导致社会复杂性的过程。特林吉特人在史前时期主要发展等级社会，并且是不寻常的，因为狩猎和采集（而不是农业）经济为这种转变提供了基础。理论家们对这种变化背后的过程意见不一。有些人认为，人口增长和由此造成的资源短缺是原因。另一些人则认为，造成这种情况的原因是在获取资源方面存在差别。Maschner先生的研究将有助于在这两种选择中做出选择。这项研究也很重要，因为它将增加我们对北方环境中传统生存适应的理解。它可能有助于制定政策，为今天的阿拉斯加土著居民，并帮助确定自然资源的最佳利用。它还将帮助培养一名有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the guidance of Dr. Michael Jochim, Mr. Herbert Maschner will conduct doctoral dissertation research in the Tebenkof Bay region of Southeast Alaska. Previous work by Mr. Maschner has indicated the presence of seven archaeological sites, ranging from small to large, in this limited area. The occupants, he believes, are directly ancestral to the native American Tlingit who occupy the region today. He shall map all seven sites and conduct excavations at four of them. Preliminary work shows that all contain house depressions and a series of 1 x 1 meter test pits will be dug in a selected sample. A number of column samples will also be collected from midden deposits in front and behind the houses. The resulting materials will permit the sites to be dated and, also, provide information on both social organization and diet. Hopefully, changes in these parameters can be traced over time. The wider region will also be surveyed for other sites and resource procurement areas will be mapped. This project is extremely interesting because it will shed light on the processes which lead to social complexity. The Tlingit developed ranked chiefly societies in prehistoric times and are unusual because a hunting and gathering (and not agricultural) economy provided a base for this transition. Theorists disagree about the processes which underlie this change. Some argue that population growth and resultant resource scarcity is the causal factor. Others believe that development of differential access to resources is responsible. Mr. Maschner's research will help to select between these two options. This research is also important because it will increase our understanding of traditional subsistence adaptations in northern environments. It may help to formulate policy for present day Alaskan aboriginal populations and help determine optimal use of natural resources. It will also aid in the training of a promising young scientist.