The stable isotope evidence from Shuká Káa’s bones — indicating a diet heavily dominated by marine protein — is not surprising given his geographic setting, but it is significant.

It tells us that he was not simply present near the coast; he was genuinely a maritime person, dependent on the resources of the sea for his sustenance.

This is a specific adaptive mode — a particular way of relating to the environment — that required specific technological and social capabilities.

Harvesting the marine resources of the Southeast Alaskan coast requires more than simply showing up at the water’s edge.

It requires watercraft, to move through the complex waterways of the archipelago and to access offshore resources.