shenKee-yAp (coyote) or shkAkha (dog)? Faunal analysis of a pre-contact canid assemblage from near Lytton in the Mid-Fraser region of BC
Date
2026
Authors
Collins, Lily
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Abstract
This Honours research involves the analysis of pre-contact canid faunal remains recovered during archaeological monitoring near Lytton, BC, within the Nlaka’pamux Homeland. Using current osteometric analytical techniques for canid identification in North America, and in reference to available ethnographic data, this research aims to determine the burial context of the canid assemblage, identify the species of the canids as either coyote (Canis latrans) or domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and better understand human-dog relationships in the Mid-Fraser region of BC. Comprehensive faunal analysis of the assemblage revealed two nearly complete canids. Ethnographic sources revealed compelling evidence for interpreting this assemblage to be associated with both a coyote den and a dog burial. However, species identification was inconclusive due to the fragmentation of the skeletal remains, the limited research on canid identification in North America, and the strong skeletal similarities between coyotes and dogs in the region. The lack of conclusive species differentiation and the ethnographic accounts of interbreeding in the region introduce the possibility that these are coyote-dog hybrids. Definitively identifying the species of the individuals recovered and understanding the context of the burial will require the use of more advanced zooarchaeological or scientific methods. This study highlights the wide-ranging and complex implications of canid identification in the Mid-Fraser. Regardless of whether the assemblage is classified as coyote or dog, this study advances our knowledge of the relationships between humans and canids in Nlaka'pamux communities and highlights the importance of protecting archaeological sites on First Nations reserve lands.
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Keywords
zooarchaeology, Nlaka’pamux, Mid-Fraser, Canis latrans, Cani lupus familiaris, coyote, dog, pre-contact, canid assemblage