LATE HOLOCENE RESOURCE INTENSIFICATION IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - THE VERTEBRATE EVIDENCE

Late Holocene archaeological vertebrate faunas from the Sacramento Valley of north-central California document dramatic changes through time in the relative abundances of large- and small-sized species. The abundances of medium and large mammals decrease significantly through time relative to small resident fishes. When seasonal and spatial variability is held constant, significant decreases also exist in the abundances of large anadromous fishes relative to small resident fishes. These patterns support models of resource intensification posited for central California, which suggest that substantial decreases in foraging efficiency occurred during the late Holocene.