Abstract
A key aspect of reconstructing hunter-gatherer lifeways is understanding how and when people moved across the landscape. Zooarchaeologists assist in this effort by analyzing the demographic composition of particular taxa found in archaeofaunal assemblages via epiphyseal fusion and dental development and attrition. One such taxon is the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris); due to its long hibernation, it is only available for predation for three to six months each year. This study reviews the skeletal development and attrition of 33 yellow-bellied marmots from western North America to establish the timing of bone fusion, incisor growth, and premolar dental wear. The research presented here is the first known study to examine epiphyseal fusion and incisor development in yellow-bellied marmots. While the scope and detail of this study are ultimately limited by small sample size, the study was sufficient to allow for the placement of individuals into three age cohorts corresponding to the first three seasons of skeletal development. These data will allow archaeologists and paleontologists to estimate age based on metrics on incisors and premolars of individual specimens, as well as epiphyseal fusion for commingled remains. As yellow-bellied marmots were a common food source for prehistoric hunter-gatherers, particularly in alpine environments of the Great Basin, the results of this study may be used to understand both the season of occupation and forager efficiency in such marginal environments.