On Arguments for the "Butchering" of Giant Geladas

Binford, Lewis R.; Todd, Lawrence C.; Shipman, Pat; Bosler, Wendy; Davis, Karen Lee

doi:10.1086/202785

Cited by 14 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Later thoughts on Olorgesailie and Olduvai have shown more than one oscillation of views. Shipman et al (1981) argued for human involvement in the killing of the Olorgesailie Theropithecus baboons, but the patterns of bone breakage did not convince Binford and Todd (1982). More recently, the studies of Koch (1990) have strengthened the idea that butchery is not the explanation.…”

Section: Background To the Food-sharing Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Archaeology of Human Ancestry

2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Background To the Food-sharing Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Archaeology of Human Ancestry

2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Postcranial evidence of cold adaptation in European Neandertals

Holliday

1997

American J Phys Anthropol

234

104

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The low brachial and crural indices of the European Neandertals have long been considered indicative of cold adaptation. Recent work has documented lower limb/trunk ratios and deeper chests (anterior-posterior diameter) in European Neandertals than among their successors. The present study uses variables reflective of limb length, body mass and trunk height, and compares European Neandertals to 15 globally diverse recent human samples (1 "Eskimo," 3 North African, 4 sub-Saharan African and 7 European). Bivariate plots, as well as principal components analysis plots of log shape-transformed data, indicate that European Neandertals had an overall body shape that falls at the extreme end of modern higher latitude groups' range of variation. Cluster analysis (minimum spanning tree on a principal coordinates plot) indicates that the Neandertals are closest in body shape to modern "Eskimos," but even in this dendrogram, they are joined to the "Eskimo" via a long branch. In fact, it appears that European Neandertals were "hyperpolar" in body shape, likely due to two factors: 1) the extremely cold temperatures of glacial Europe and 2) less effective cultural buffering against cold stress.

show abstract

Hyenas and hunters: zooarchaeological investigations at Prolom II Cave, Crimea

Enloe

David

Baryshnikov

2000

Int. J. Osteoarchaeol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Prolom II, a stratified archaeological cave deposit in the eastern Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine, dates back to approximately 135000 -60000 years ago. Stone tool industries from four human occupation levels are characteristic of the Middle Palaeolithic, typically associated with Neanderthals. In addition to the stone tool artifactual material, there is abundant faunal material, including saiga antelope, horse, bison, hyena and bear. This zooarchaeological investigation examined approximately 3500 specimens of animal bones to discern between natural and cultural modifications, and to elucidate human patterns of exploitation of faunal resources in prehistoric subsistence.The high proportion of carnivores, particularly hyena, in the fauna suggest that much of the faunal material is present as a result of non-human agents. Morphological characteristics, such as gnawing marks and punctures, were abundant on most herbivore skeletal elements. Bone destruction patterns were consistent with carnivore and scavenger behaviour, as documented in modern comparative studies. Stone tool cut marks were identifiable under microscopic examination on only six specimens of saiga antelope.The preliminary conclusion is that the site was occupied alternately by carnivores, primarily hyenas and, occasionally, humans. These occupations were probably short-term stays. The deep stratigraphic deposits represent accumulations over long periods of time. We cannot assign more than a few of the faunal specimens to human hunting or modification, despite the large number of stone tools present at the site. The densest and highest frequencies of stone tools occurred in the same levels as the greatest frequencies of hyena bones, which are very unlikely to represent human prey. The human contribution to the faunal assemblage appears to be minimal. The entire collection of bones cannot be used to characterize human subsistence. This is consistent with a growing literature that reassesses the role of humans in the accumulation of animal bones in a variety of archaeological and palaeontological sites.

show abstract

On Arguments for the "Butchering" of Giant Geladas

Cited by 14 publications

References 10 publications

The Archaeology of Human Ancestry

The Archaeology of Human Ancestry

Postcranial evidence of cold adaptation in European Neandertals

Hyenas and hunters: zooarchaeological investigations at Prolom II Cave, Crimea

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About