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The great auk and the gannet: a prehistoric perspective on the extinction of the great auk

The great auk and the gannet: a prehistoric perspective on the extinction of the great auk
The great auk and the gannet: a prehistoric perspective on the extinction of the great auk
Archaeological finds of the great auk, Alca impennis, and the northern gannet, Sula bassana, from prehistoric and historic coastal sites around the British Isles show the earlier distribution of these birds. They suggest that the great auk bred more widely in the eastern Atlantic than on the few breeding sites which are attested historically. Comparison between the two species suggests that the method of exploitation as well as the biology and behaviour of each contributed to the extinction of the former and the survival of the latter.
great auk, alca impennis, northern gannet, sula bassana, bird bones, extinction, britain, common pool resources, seabird fowling
1047-482X
43-55
Serjeantson, Dale
6b183986-b245-44b9-9b06-d8e5d4c0f5a3
Serjeantson, Dale
6b183986-b245-44b9-9b06-d8e5d4c0f5a3

Serjeantson, Dale (2001) The great auk and the gannet: a prehistoric perspective on the extinction of the great auk. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 11 (1-2), 43-55. (doi:10.1002/oa.545).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Archaeological finds of the great auk, Alca impennis, and the northern gannet, Sula bassana, from prehistoric and historic coastal sites around the British Isles show the earlier distribution of these birds. They suggest that the great auk bred more widely in the eastern Atlantic than on the few breeding sites which are attested historically. Comparison between the two species suggests that the method of exploitation as well as the biology and behaviour of each contributed to the extinction of the former and the survival of the latter.

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More information

Published date: 2001
Keywords: great auk, alca impennis, northern gannet, sula bassana, bird bones, extinction, britain, common pool resources, seabird fowling

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 43094
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/43094
ISSN: 1047-482X
PURE UUID: a0fbd30a-de54-42e0-ae0c-f0c9cf61e2d7

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Jan 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:52

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