Yesterday we almost finished with the prehistoric midden at Miktsqaaq Angayuk. I continue to be amazed at how well the bones and shells are preserved. We even found whole sea urchins (see bottom photo of Leslie holding a sea urchin we found in the midden). One thing we had been concerned about was whether or not the midden had been redeposited - for instance, dug out when the house was built and dumped in front. But now I am sure it has not - no sea urchin could withstand such a move intact.
The top photo is of rotted blue mussel shells, and the small white oval bones are small cod or pollack ear bones. I am convinced that the preservation is such that we would have seen crab shell parts if they had been present. Prehistorically, it appears that the Alutiiq did not eat crabs. I have never seen crab remains in a Kodiak midden. Patrick
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