_Population Estimates_
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Tribe |Area |Fishing| Pop. |Area |Fishing-|Kroeber[5]| Cook[6]
| (sq | |Esti- |Den- | | mile |
| mi) | Miles | mate |sity |Density | Estimate |Estimate
-------------+-----+-------+------+-----+--------+----------+--------
Kato[4] | 225 | 29 | 1,523| 6.77| 52.5 | 500 | 1,100
Wailaki | 296 | 23 | 1,656| 5.59| 72.0 | 600 | 2,315
Pitch Wailaki| 182 | 15 | 1,104| 6.07| 73.6 | 400 | 1,032
Lassik[4] | 389 | 25 | 1,411| 3.63| 56.4 | 500 | 1,500
Shelter Cove | 350 | 67 | 2,145| 6.13| 32.0 | 375 | 1,450
Sinkyone[4]| | | | | | |
Lolangkok | 294 | 63 | 2,076| 7.06| 33.0 | 375 | 1,450
Sinkyone | | | | | | |
Mattole | 170 | 38.5 | 1,200| 7.06| 31.2 | 350 | 840
Bear River[4]| 121 | 21 | 1,276|10.55| 60.8 | 150 | 360
Nongatl[4] | 855 | 85 | 2,325| 2.72| 27.4 | 750 | 3,300
Whilkut | 461 | 70 | 2,588| 5.61| 37.0 | 1,000 | 2,100
Hupa | 424 | 39 | 1,475| 3.48| 37.8 | 1,000 | 2,000
|-----+-------+------+-----+--------+----------+--------
Total |3,767| 475.5 |18,779| 4.99| 39.5 | 6,000 | 17,447
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[4] The population figures for these groups are estimated in the gross
by the method indicated in the text.
[5] Kroeber, 1925_a_, p. 883. The breakdown has been changed somewhat to
accommodate boundary changes; the total remains the same. The population
density, according to Kroeber's figures, is 1.6 persons per sq. mi.
[6] Cook, 1956. The breakdown has been changed somewhat to accommodate
boundary changes; the total remains the same. The population density,
according to Cook's figures, is 4.6 persons per sq. mi.
The corpus of information provided by the methods outlined above would
be useful in two ways. First, it would clarify our definitions of the
economic factors in the lives of hunter-gatherers. Functional hypotheses
which postulate dependence of social factors on economy would be subject
to objective, quantitative tests of their validity.
Second, the corpus of information would afford a suitable basis for
inference from archaeological data. If we can determine what were the
major economic factors in the lives of a prehistoric people, then we
can make assertions about population, settlement pattern, and the
like. Conversely, information about population and settlement pattern
would imply certain facts about the economy. This technique has
already been developed to some extent. For instance, Cook and Heizer,
depending on assumptions derived from ethnographic data (Cook and
Treganza, 1950; Heizer, 1953; Heizer and Baumhoff, 1956), have made
inferences concerning village populations. These methods have such great
possibilities for the conjunctive approach in archaeology that their use
should be extended as much as possible.