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Accumulation agents and bird assemblages: The case of the TE9d level at Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:9287558
    Authors:
    Marqueta MHuguet RNúñez-Lahuerta C
    Abstract:
    Bird assemblages can be found in archeological sites throughout the Pleistocene. Taphonomy studies are key to understanding how such assemblages were formed. These assemblages can be generated by various agents, including human groups, animals, and natural death. In this paper, we analyzed the avifaunal assemblage from level TE9d at the Sima del Elefante site, where corvid (Corvidae) remains are the most abundant taxa, as reported in previous studies from that deposit. The remains of smaller birds (Charadriiformes, Rallidae) and large raptors (Aquila cf. heliaca/adalberti, Haliaeetus albicilla) have also been documented. Our taphonomic analysis shows that birds of prey were the main accumulators of bird remains at the site. The presence of modifications such as beak/talon marks and different degrees of digestion reinforce the idea that both diurnal and nocturnal raptors were involved. Nevertheless, we cannot rule out the accumulation by natural death of those species that could have nested in the rocky walls of the cave. The absence of evidence of anthropogenic activity on the bird remains from level TE9d therefore indicates that hominins were not involved in this accumulation. These results can be considered a new contribution to the discussion on the origin of avifaunal accumulations in Pleistocene archeological contexts.
  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Marqueta M; Huguet R; Núñez-Lahuerta C
    Department: Història i Història de l'Art
    URV's Author/s: Huguet Pàmies, Rosa
    Keywords: Taphonomy Sima del elefante Raptor Early-pleistocene Early pleistocene Bird accumulations taphonomy taphonomic signature subsistence strategies site sima del elefante raptor middle hominin subsistence golden eagle food remains early pleistocene cave bones
    Abstract: Bird assemblages can be found in archeological sites throughout the Pleistocene. Taphonomy studies are key to understanding how such assemblages were formed. These assemblages can be generated by various agents, including human groups, animals, and natural death. In this paper, we analyzed the avifaunal assemblage from level TE9d at the Sima del Elefante site, where corvid (Corvidae) remains are the most abundant taxa, as reported in previous studies from that deposit. The remains of smaller birds (Charadriiformes, Rallidae) and large raptors (Aquila cf. heliaca/adalberti, Haliaeetus albicilla) have also been documented. Our taphonomic analysis shows that birds of prey were the main accumulators of bird remains at the site. The presence of modifications such as beak/talon marks and different degrees of digestion reinforce the idea that both diurnal and nocturnal raptors were involved. Nevertheless, we cannot rule out the accumulation by natural death of those species that could have nested in the rocky walls of the cave. The absence of evidence of anthropogenic activity on the bird remains from level TE9d therefore indicates that hominins were not involved in this accumulation. These results can be considered a new contribution to the discussion on the origin of avifaunal accumulations in Pleistocene archeological contexts.
    Thematic Areas: Saúde coletiva Interdisciplinar Historia Ciencias sociales Ciencias humanas Archeology (arts and humanities) Archeology Archaeology Antropologia / arqueologia Antropología Anthropology
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: rosa.huguet@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0002-1750-6249
    Record's date: 2024-07-27
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Link to the original source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oa.3185
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Papper original source: International Journal Of Osteoarchaeology.
    APA: Marqueta M; Huguet R; Núñez-Lahuerta C (2022). Accumulation agents and bird assemblages: The case of the TE9d level at Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain). New York: Wiley
    Article's DOI: 10.1002/oa.3185
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2022
    Publication Type: Proceedings Paper
  • Keywords:

    Anthropology,Archaeology,Archeology,Archeology (Arts and Humanities)
    Taphonomy
    Sima del elefante
    Raptor
    Early-pleistocene
    Early pleistocene
    Bird accumulations
    taphonomy
    taphonomic signature
    subsistence strategies
    site
    sima del elefante
    raptor
    middle
    hominin subsistence
    golden eagle
    food remains
    early pleistocene
    cave
    bones
    Saúde coletiva
    Interdisciplinar
    Historia
    Ciencias sociales
    Ciencias humanas
    Archeology (arts and humanities)
    Archeology
    Archaeology
    Antropologia / arqueologia
    Antropología
    Anthropology
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