The Middle Paleolithic Site of Pech de l'Azé IV by Harold L. Dibble Shannon J. P. McPherron Paul Goldberg & Dennis M. Sandgathe

Author:Harold L. Dibble, Shannon J. P. McPherron, Paul Goldberg & Dennis M. Sandgathe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

Taphonomic Analysis of Nutrient Extraction Behaviors

One of the most important taphonomic analyses run at the site was to establish the frequency of skeletal elements that were intentionally broken for the extraction of nutrients (by Neanderthals or carnivores) versus the number of elements unintentionally broken by processes such as trampling, roof collapse, etc. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the extent to which hominins and carnivores extracted nutrients from skeletal elements at the site and to evaluate the role that post-depositional processes played in the formation of the assemblage. This analysis was conducted following methods outlined by Villa and Mahieu (1991) who established criteria for determining if long bones had been broken in a fresh state, in which internal bone nutrients such as bone marrow and grease were still present in the element, versus if a long bone was broken in a dry state when nutrients were no longer preserved. Experimental studies of breakage patterns caused by hominins and carnivores (Marean et al. 2000) can now be used to calibrate data generated by bone breakage analyses allowing them to be more effectively applied to zooarchaeological remains. For example, based on actualistic experiments in which skeletal elements were broken for the express purpose of marrow extraction, the expected frequency of elements with fresh-bone breaks is 85 ± 3% (Blumenschine 1988; Capaldo 1995, 1998; Marean et al. 2000). It should be noted that data from the experimental assemblages listed here as “carnivore only”, “hominid to carnivore”, and “hominid only” represent the limits of a range of variation that exists for the accumulating processes for large mammals in caves. Within the experimental data comparisons “carnivore only” includes experiments in which carnivores were fully responsible for breaking bones, “hominid only” refers to experiments for which Neanderthals were fully responsible for breaking bones, and “hominid to carnivore” is a situation where Neanderthals broke the bones first and then carnivores later fed on them.

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