Taphonomy and the Nature of Archaeological Assemblages

Stodder, Ann L. W.

doi:10.1002/9781119151647.ch3

Cited by 23 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 124 publications

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“…This damage is defined by multiple types of tooth marks (pitting, furrowing and scoring) and carnivore bone breakage, which indicates different gnawing intensity on Neanderthal bones. In this sense, according to the consumption patterns observed in forensic cases of a human body by carnivores (Haglund, )—which depends on the condition of the body, cause of death and degree of disarticulation (Stodder, )—our sample displays different consumption stages. The specimens from Cova Negra, Valdegoba, Moros de Gabasa and Jarama VI show a moderate intensity of carnivore damage, while the Fonds de Fôret fossil displays intense gnawing activity by carnivores, and the Hohlenstein Stadel and Kalamakia specimens show very intense activity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…The same issue arises for the femora discovered in Hohlenstein Stadel and Fonds de Fôret, as they display damage commonly associated with scavenging of human remains by carnivores, such as the consumption of long bones that results in bone cylinders and fractured remains (e.g., Milner & Smith, ; Keerbis‐Peterhans, ; Stodder, ). This is also the most probable case for the Neanderthal fossils with similar carnivore modifications discovered in Gruta da Oliveira, Rochers‐de‐Villaneuve, Grotte de la Tour and Zafarraya (Beauval et al, ; Barroso Ruiz et al, ; Trinkaus et al, ; Puymerail et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…For the observation of human remains, a taphonomic approach has been developed that takes into account all evidence of carnivore activity. The recording of human bones followed standard methods for identifying human bones modified by animals such as carnivores (e.g., Haglund, ; Botella et al, ; Stodder, ; Sala et al, ), rodents (e.g., Ubelaker, : 78) and others (e.g., Berryman, ). A standard archaeozoological approach to bone taphonomic modifications was also applied (e.g., Binford, ; Klein & Cruz‐Uribe, ; Lyman, ; Egeland, ), and the fractures were classified according to Villa & Mahieu ().…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hunted or Scavenged Neanderthals? Taphonomic Approach to Hominin Fossils with Carnivore Damage

Camarós

Cueto

Rosell

et al. 2017

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Carnivore damage on Neanderthal fossils is a much more common taphonomic modification than previously thought. Its presence could have different explanations, including predatory attacks or scavenging scenarios, which are both situations with important implications concerning Neanderthal behaviour. In the present paper, we analyse several Neanderthal hominin fossils from a taphonomic and forensic perspective in order to infer the nature of the modifications observed on the bone surfaces. Fossils displaying carnivore modifications from Spain, Germany, Belgium and Greece are evaluated from a taphonomic perspective for the first time in a significant sample of hominin specimens. Our results show that the materials analysed have been modified by small to large carnivores and that both attacks and strictly carnivore scavenging events can be inferred. This study also points out the importance of developing taphonomic approaches to the analysis of hominin bone surfaces, which can contribute significantly to knowledge of several aspects of Neanderthal behaviour.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hunted or Scavenged Neanderthals? Taphonomic Approach to Hominin Fossils with Carnivore Damage

Camarós

Cueto

Rosell

et al. 2017

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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“…Las fracturas y los daños postmortem pueden ser causados por una diversidad de agentes extrínsecos, como los daños provocados por la dentición de carnívoros y roedores, la acción térmica, el impacto de rocas, la presión sedimentaria, la actividad antrópica, etc. (Galloway 1999;Stodder 2008). Un punto crítico, en ocasiones, es lograr discriminar entre lesiones perimortem y postmortem, ya que ambas carecen de evidencias de remodelación ósea.…”

Section: Interpretación De Los Traumas En Contextos Bioarqueológicosunclassified

Trauma Y Violencia en Patagonia Austral. Interpretación De Evidencias Bioarqueologicas Y Perspectivas Futuras

Flensborg

Suby

2020

Chungará (Arica)

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En este trabajo se revisan y analizan los reportes de traumas en restos humanos de Patagonia Austral, discutiendo sus posibles implicancias bioarqueológicas y exponiendo los futuros pasos que a nuestro criterio deberían seguir las investigaciones de este tipo de lesiones patológicas en la región. Sobre un total de 126 esqueletos humanos, se reportaron 15 (11,9%) individuos adultos con traumas, principalmente individuos masculinos. Todas las lesiones fueron identificadas en restos del Holoceno Tardío, aunque algunas se registraron en esqueletos sin información cronológica. Se observaron depresiones en los cráneos, fracturas en huesos largos, cortos y vértebras e inclusiones de puntas de proyectil en coxales y cráneos. La mayoría de las lesiones son antemortem y fueron relacionadas con accidentes y violencia, seguidas por perimortem, que en todos los casos fueron vinculadas a eventos de violencia interpersonal. Aunque sin diferencias significativas, las subregiones de Santa Cruz/Magallanes y norte de Tierra del Fuego presentan frecuencias más elevadas de traumas y de casos relacionados con violencia interpersonal que el sur de Tierra del Fuego, indicando posibles variaciones en la exposición a accidentes y en las relaciones sociales de conflicto, así como contrastes en la intensidad de las investigaciones. Los porcentajes y los tipos de lesiones son similares a aquellos traumas informados para otras regiones de Patagonia. Por último, no se observan evidencias de aumento de tensión social que acompañen el proceso de aumento demográfico identificado durante el Holoceno Tardío en Patagonia Austral.Palabras claves: lesiones traumáticas, restos óseos humanos, Patagonia Austral, Holoceno Tardío.In this work, reports of traumas in human remains from Southern Patagonia are reviewed and analyzed. Also, bioarchaeological implications and the future steps of trauma investigations are discussed. Considering a total sample of 126 skeletons, fifteen (11.9%) adult individuals, mainly male individuals. were identified with reports of traumas. All lesions were recorded in individuals of the late Holocene, although some were recorded in remains that lacked chronological information. Depressions in the skulls, fractures in long and short bones as well as vertebrae, and inclusions of projectile points in coxal bones and skulls were observed. Most lesions are antemortem, associated with accidents and violence, followed in frequency by perimortem lesions that were always linked to interpersonal violence events. The subregions of Santa Cruz / Magallanes and North of Tierra del Fuego have the highest frequencies of trauma and cases related to interpersonal violence, in comparison with the South of Tierra del Fuego, but without statistically significant differences. This could indicate variations in exposure to accidents and social conflicts as well as differences in the intensity of the investigations. The percentages and types of injuries are similar to those traumas reported for other regions from Southern Patagonia. Finally, there is n...

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“…Por otro lado, los estudios tafonómicos pueden proporcionarnos sólidos indicios acerca de los distintos procesos que operaron en la formación de sitios (Stodder 2008), permitiéndonos discriminar entre aquellos de origen natural y los de origen antrópico (Fisher 1995).…”

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El Comportamiento Mortuorio De Los Cazadores Recolectores Del Sitio Médano Petroquímica (La Pampa, Argentina). Caracterización Preliminar Desde Un Abordaje Tafonómico

2020

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En este trabajo se propone la utilización de herramientas provenientes de la tafonomía y la arqueotanatología para ampliar el conocimiento sobre las costumbres mortuorias y los procesos de formación de sitio a partir del análisis de restos óseos humanos. La muestra proviene del sitio Médano Petroquímica, un área de inhumación ubicada al sudoeste de la provincia de La Pampa, Argentina, que habría sido originada por sociedades cazadoras recolectoras de finales del Holoceno Tardío. Los resultados obtenidos del estudio de cuatro entierros, uno primario y tres secundarios (NMI=19), sugieren que las huellas de corte y la permanencia de relaciones articulares son consistentes con prácticas de manipulación del cuerpo en diferentes momentos después de la muerte. Por su parte, la actividad de insectos se registró en mayor frecuencia en el entierro primario. Los fechados, junto con la presencia de insectos, ocre y las características específicas de cada rasgo soportarían mayormente la sincronía en la inhumación de los rasgos del sitio. Palabras claves: tafonomía humana, cazadores recolectores, prácticas mortuorias, huellas de corte, fracturas perimortem. This paper proposes the use of analytical tools from taphonomy and archaeothanatology to expand knowledge about mortuary customs and site formation processes from the analysis of human bone remains. The sample comes from the Médano Petroquímica site, an inhumation area located south west of La Pampa province, Argentina, which would have been originated by hunter-gatherer societies from the Late Holocene. The results obtained from the study of four burials, one pri mary and three secondary (NMI=19), suggest that the cut-marks and the presence of articular relationships are consistent with practices of body manipulation at different times after death. Furthermore, a greater frequency of insects activity was recorded in the primary burial. The radiocarbon dates, along with the presence of insects, ocher, and the specific features of each burial, would largely support the synchrony in the inhumation of the features of the site.

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Taphonomy and the Nature of Archaeological Assemblages

Cited by 23 publications

References 124 publications

Hunted or Scavenged Neanderthals? Taphonomic Approach to Hominin Fossils with Carnivore Damage

Hunted or Scavenged Neanderthals? Taphonomic Approach to Hominin Fossils with Carnivore Damage

Trauma Y Violencia en Patagonia Austral. Interpretación De Evidencias Bioarqueologicas Y Perspectivas Futuras

El Comportamiento Mortuorio De Los Cazadores Recolectores Del Sitio Médano Petroquímica (La Pampa, Argentina). Caracterización Preliminar Desde Un Abordaje Tafonómico

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