This work reviews the anthropogenic exploitation of small mammals during a crucial time span for the reconstruction of human behavior at the dawn of the Middle Upper Palaeolithic boundary in the Northern Mediterranean region. Data are sourced from faunal assemblages recovered in the final Mousterian levels of Grotta di Fumane (A5A6 complex) and the Late Mousterian levels of Riparo Tagliente (levels 35 and 36) and Grotta di San Bernardino (units II and IV), in the North of Italy. As a whole, these records mostly comprise ungulates, rather than bird and carnivore bones, and derive from primary accumulation processes more than from postdepositional activities or direct carnivore actions. Broadly, the taphonomic analyses reveal the presence of human modifications referable to different butchering activities on almost all of the ungulates. Small mammal bones are present throughout the late MP sequences in variable quantities, with canids and rodents represented in each of the assemblages. This work highlights new qualitative taphonomic records produced by humans within a large area that reveal Neandertals’ exploitation of small mammals as game. At Grotta di Fumane, foxes have been butchered in order to exploit fur and meat. Similarly, at Grotta Maggiore di San Bernardino and Riparo Tagliente some large rodents bear cutmarks related to the same purposes. Krapina Cave is the only other Mousterian site containing evidence of small game explotation (beaver and marmot) that is in close geographical proximity to the caves analyzed here.
Data di pubblicazione: | 2018 | |
Titolo: | Late neandertals and the exploitation of small mammals in Northern Italy: Fortuity, necessity or hunting variability? | |
Autori: | Romandini, Matteo; Thun Hohenstein, Ursula; Fiore, Ivana; Tagliacozzo, Antonio; Perez, Andrea; Lubrano, Valentina; Terlato, Gabriele; Peresani, Marco | |
Rivista: | QUATERNAIRE | |
Keywords: | Italie du Nord, Moustérien, petits mammifères, taphonomie, archéozoologie | |
Keywords: | northern Italy, Mousterian, small mammals, taphonomy, archaeozoology | |
Abstract in francese: | Cet article passe en revue l’exploitation anthropique des petits mammifères dans un laps de temps d’importance fondamentale pour la reconstruction des changements du comportement humain survenus à travers la limite entre le Paléolithique moyen et le Paléolithique supérieur dans la région de la Méditerranée septentrionale. Les sources de données sont les assemblages faunistiques issus des niveaux du Moustérienset du Moustérien final de la Grotte de Fumane (SSUU A5 + A6 et A6), de Riparo Tagliente (tt. 35 et 36) et de la Grotte Maggiore de San Bernardino (SU II, niveau IV), en Italie du Nord. Dans l’ensemble, ces assemblages comprennent surtout des os d’ongulés, et dans une moindre mesure d’oiseaux et de carnivores, résultant davantage d’un processus d’accumulation primaire que d’activités postdépositionnelles ou d’actions directes de la part des carnivores. D’une manière générale, l’analyse taphonomique révèle la présence de modifications anthropiques liées à différentes activités de boucherie sur presque tous les ongulés. Dans ces assemblages, des petits os de mammifères sont présents en quantités variables dans toutes les séquences du Paléolithique moyen, ainsi que des os de canidés et de rongeurs représentés dans chacun d’entre eux. Ce travail met en évidence de nouvelles données qualitatives taphonomiques, produites par les humains dans une vaste zone, qui révèlent l’exploitation des petits mammifères par les Néandertaliens. Dans la Grotte de Fumane, des renards ont été dépecés et découpés pour exploiter la fourrure et la viande. Dans la Grotte de San Bernardino et à Riparo Tagliente, de grands rongeurs portent des traces de découpe liées aux mêmes buts. Dans d’autres sites moustériens, géographiquement proches des sites analysés, l’exploitation de petits mammifères (castor et marmotte) a été enregistrée uniquement dans la séquence de Krapina Cave. | |
Abstract in inglese: | This work reviews the anthropogenic exploitation of small mammals during a crucial time span for the reconstruction of human behavior at the dawn of the Middle Upper Palaeolithic boundary in the Northern Mediterranean region. Data are sourced from faunal assemblages recovered in the final Mousterian levels of Grotta di Fumane (A5A6 complex) and the Late Mousterian levels of Riparo Tagliente (levels 35 and 36) and Grotta di San Bernardino (units II and IV), in the North of Italy. As a whole, these records mostly comprise ungulates, rather than bird and carnivore bones, and derive from primary accumulation processes more than from postdepositional activities or direct carnivore actions. Broadly, the taphonomic analyses reveal the presence of human modifications referable to different butchering activities on almost all of the ungulates. Small mammal bones are present throughout the late MP sequences in variable quantities, with canids and rodents represented in each of the assemblages. This work highlights new qualitative taphonomic records produced by humans within a large area that reveal Neandertals’ exploitation of small mammals as game. At Grotta di Fumane, foxes have been butchered in order to exploit fur and meat. Similarly, at Grotta Maggiore di San Bernardino and Riparo Tagliente some large rodents bear cutmarks related to the same purposes. Krapina Cave is the only other Mousterian site containing evidence of small game explotation (beaver and marmot) that is in close geographical proximity to the caves analyzed here. | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.4000/quaternaire.8626 | |
Handle: | http://hdl.handle.net/11392/2372990 | |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 03.1 Articolo su rivista |
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