Small mammal deposits in archaeology : a taphonomic investigation of Tyto alba (barn owl) nesting and roosting sites
Small mammals have often been utilised as indicators of past environments. Before palaeoecological assessments can be made, investigations into the origin and mode of deposition are carried out. Many small mammal accumulations are predator-derived, and in order to take account of predatory bias in these deposits, it is necessary to identify the predator. Several methodologies have catalogued patterns of bone modification from dietary waste of modern predators, for comparison with taphonomic features found on archaeological assemblages of small mammals. The majority of this research has concentrated only on the adult age range from these predators. However, data from owls have shown that younger individuals are often responsible for more extensive bone modification. To investigate this difference associated with the age of predators and bone modification, two modern Tyto alba roost samples and three modern Tyto alba nest samples were analysed to provide evidence of bone modification from adult and baby owls. Significant differences were found between these two groups, with higher rates of bone digestion associated with the nest samples, To test whether these taphonomic patterns could be identified in archaeological
Williams, James Philip
Palaeoecology; Predator
Small mammal deposits in archaeology : a taphonomic investigation of Tyto alba (barn owl) nesting and roosting sites. Small mammals have often been utilised as indicators of past environments. Before palaeoecological assessments can be made, investigations into the origin and mode of deposition are carried out. Many small mammal accumulations are predator-derived, and in order to take account of predatory bias in these deposits, it is necessary to identify the predator. Several methodologies have catalogued patterns of bone modification from dietary waste of modern predators, for comparison with taphonomic features found on archaeological assemblages of small mammals. The majority of this research has concentrated only on the adult age range from these predators. However, data from owls have shown that younger individuals are often responsible for more extensive bone modification. To investigate this difference associated with the age of predators and bone modification, two modern Tyto alba roost samples and three modern Tyto alba nest samples were analysed to provide evidence of bone modification from adult and baby owls. Significant differences were found between these two groups, with higher rates of bone digestion associated with the nest samples, To test whether these taphonomic patterns could be identified in archaeological
small_mammal deposit archaeology taphonomic investigation nest site small_mammal often utilised indicator past environment palaeoecological assessment_make investigation origin mode deposition carry_out many small_mammal accumulation derived order take_account bias deposit necessary identify several methodology catalogue pattern bone modification dietary waste modern comparison taphonomic feature_find archaeological_assemblage small_mammal majority concentrate adult age_range however data show young individual often responsible extensive bone modification investigate_difference associate age bone modification modern sample modern nest sample analyse provide_evidence bone modification adult significant_difference find two_group high_rate bone associate nest sample test_whether taphonomic pattern could_identify archaeological