Zooarchaeology and taphonomy of Aurora Stratum (Gran Dolina, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

Authors: Díez J.C.¹; Fernández-Jalvo Y.^{2, 3}; Rosell J.⁴; Cáceres I.⁴

Source: Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 37, Number 34, 1999 , pp. 623-652(30)

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Abstract:

In 1994 and 1995, a 7 m²area was excavated at Level 6 of the Gran Dolina site, Atapuerca. A 25 cm deep sub-level, named Aurora Stratum, contained a large number of human fossils, stone tools and faunal remains. The appearance of human remains as part of a butchered faunal assemblage in association with stone tools raises an interesting question relating to human behaviour. The main aim of this paper, therefore, is to evaluate the nature and function of the human occupation at this cave site with a view to understanding the purposes of cannibalism. The zooarchaeological and taphonomic analyses of the macrovertebrate remains focus on species composition, weight and anatomic groups, as well as breakage intensity, type of fragmentation, and surface damage (particularly tool-induced damage) in order to evaluate the faunal source, butchering techniques and economic strategies of the human groups involved. We also studied the distribution and fossil refitting at the site to establish depositional and postdepositional disturbance. Diagenetic breakage due to sediment compression plays an important role in the assemblage, but the most extensive modifications are those produced by human activity for nutritional purposes. Copyright 1999 Academic Press

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Dpto. CC. Históricas y Geografía, Univ. de Burgos, Villadiego, s/n, Burgos, 09001, Spain 2: The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, U.K. 3: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, Madrid, 28006, Spain 4: Area de Prehistoria, Univ. Rovira i Virgili, Pl. Imperial Tarraco, 1, Tarragona, 43005, Spain

Publication date: 1999-01-01

Zooarchaeology and taphonomy of Aurora Stratum (Gran Dolina, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

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