Ages profiles of red deer in archaeological samples - a new hypothesis

Three profiles showing the age of red deer hunted by Pleistocene and Early Holocene human populations are presented. A high mortality peak is evident in the younges age class (first year of life), probably due to fawns inability to follow hinds when fleeing from danger. The class of young adult (fourth and fifth year of life) provides a second peak, variously interpreted by some authors. It is asserted here that this high mortality rate is caused by social rules of red deer: young adults at this age are chased away from the hind's herd, thus finding themselves in unfamiliar territory, where they fall easy prey to hunters.