| Abstract: |
Faunal remains recovered from the 2009 excavation of Nagsabaran shell midden site in Cagayan, Northern Luzon were analyzed to gain insights on subsistence patterns and animal processing during the occupation of the site around 4000 BP to within the last millennium. At least three distinct site occupation phases were identified through the taphonomic analysis of the bone fragments. The faunal remains indicate that the people that inhabited the site had a mixed economy that included fishing, hunting and maintenance of domestic animals. The predominance of wild taxa in the assemblage, even in the late Holocene layers, suggests reliance on hunting for subsistence. There was no observed intensification of animal husbandry during the phases of site occupation at Nagsabaran. Analysis of the representation of skeletal elements in the assemblage revealed that whole carcasses are being brought to the site and processed, and systematic analysis of the butchery marks permitted the description of the carcass processing sequences identified on the site. Overrepresentation of some skeletal elements, and the presence of finished tools, hints on the manufacture of bone implements during the later phases of site occupation. Suid remains recovered from the mid-Holocene layers confirm the presence of domestic pigs in Northern Luzon as early as 4000 BP. The presence of buffalo remains in the deposits just pre-dating the shell mound construction layers questions the current view of the biogeographic history of this taxon. The site also presents the earliest evidence of cattle (<i>Bos</i> sp.) so far in the Philippines. A dog burial in the site suggests special treatment of dogs which is in contrast to other dog remains recovered that exhibited evidence of butchery. Multivariate statistics showed that the dog from the burial represents a morphotype distinct from dingoes and modern Philippine dogs. Geometrics morphometrics, a mathematical method of shape analysis, was also performed to investigate the relationship of the Nagsabaran dog with modern Philippine dogs and dingoes. The study demonstrates the utility of this method in differentiating canids and lays the groundwork for future research using isolated dog teeth. The presence of pelagic and inshore fish remains, especially in the early phases of site habitation implies the utilization of marine resources and at least some access to coastal resources from at least 30 km to the north.
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