Arctic Pinniped Workshop
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C.
Thursday, 4 November 2004
For further information, please contact:
Susan Crockford
Pacific Identifications Inc.
E-mail: scrock [at] tnet.net or scrock [at] uvic.ca
Phone: 250-721-7296
Fax: 250-721-6215
Dear Colleagues,
In conjunction with the upcoming Arctic Conference, hosted this year by
the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. (5-6 November), I am
organizing an Arctic Pinniped Workshop to be held the preceding
Thursday, 4 November 2004. The focus will be on arctic phocid seal and
walrus biology, ecology, behaviour, genetics, anatomy, and taxonomy that
might be relevant to the identification or interpretation of prehistoric
skeletal assemblages.
The goal of this workshop is to bring together researchers working on
Arctic seals and walrus - the archaeozoologists who's job it is to study
the ancient remains and the biologists who study the modern populations
- to exchange information, ideas, and formulate future research goals in
an informal setting with lots of hands-on material. I intend to bring
samples from an enormous collection of skeletal remains recovered from
an archaeological site in the eastern Aleutians that dates to the height
of the cold Neoglacial period ca. 3,000 years ago. This assemblage
includes representatives of virtually all ages classes of ringed,
bearded, ribbon, harbour, and putative spotted seals, as well as walrus
- a useful springboard, I hope, for discussions on age estimation of
juveniles and identification problems for post-cranial remains.
All participants are invited to bring specimens along also - especially
representative sets of archaeological remains that present particular
problems, or specimens of modern animals that demonstrate particular
features of their biology or anatomy. Just be sure you have appropriate
permits for modern specimens and some kind of documentation for
archaeological material if you are crossing international borders.
The workshop will be held at the NMNH Museum Support Center, which will
give us access to the institution's vast collections of arctic pinniped
skeletons and skins, as well as to the prehistoric specimens housed in
the Department of Archaeology.
I would appreciate a preliminary expression of interest or intention to
attend as soon as possible. A preliminary title with a 2-3 sentence
description of what you would like to discuss or present at the workshop
would be appreciated on or before Friday, 15 October 2004 so that we can
determine the amount of space needed and print a program. Workshop
participants are welcome to present papers or posters at the formal
conference in addition to presentations made at the workshop.
A $10 registration/refreshment fee will be payable in advance or at the
door, in addition to the $20 charged for registration at the Arctic
Conference.
Susan Crockford
Pacific Identifications Inc.
E-mail: scrock [at] tnet.net or scrock [at] uvic.ca
Phone: 250-721-7296
Fax: 250-721-6215