A contextual approach to the study of faunal assemblages from Lower and Middle Palaeolithic sites in the UK
This thesis represents a site-specific, holistic analysis of faunal assemblage formation at four key Palaeolithic sites (Boxgrove, Swanscombe, Hoxne and Lynford). Principally this research tests the a priori assumption that lithic tools and modified large to medium-sized fauna recovered from Pleistocene deposits represent a cultural accumulation and direct evidence of past hominin meat-procurement behaviour. Frequently, the association of lithics and modified fauna at a site has been used to support either active large-mammal hunting by hominins or a scavenging strategy. Hominin bone surface modification (cut marks, deliberate fracturing) highlight an input at the site but cannot be used in isolation from all other taphonomic modifiers as evidence for cultural accumulation. To understand the role of hominins in faunal assemblage accumulation all other taphonomic factors at a site must first be considered. A site-specific framework was established by using data on the depositional environment and palaeoecology. This provided a context for the primary zooarchaeological data (faunal material: all elements and bone surface modification) and helped explain the impact and importance of faunal accumulators and modifiers
Smith, G. M.
A contextual approach to the study of faunal assemblages from Lower and Middle Palaeolithic sites in the UK. This thesis represents a site-specific, holistic analysis of faunal assemblage formation at four key Palaeolithic sites (Boxgrove, Swanscombe, Hoxne and Lynford). Principally this research tests the a priori assumption that lithic tools and modified large to medium-sized fauna recovered from Pleistocene deposits represent a cultural accumulation and direct evidence of past hominin meat-procurement behaviour. Frequently, the association of lithics and modified fauna at a site has been used to support either active large-mammal hunting by hominins or a scavenging strategy. Hominin bone surface modification (cut marks, deliberate fracturing) highlight an input at the site but cannot be used in isolation from all other taphonomic modifiers as evidence for cultural accumulation. To understand the role of hominins in faunal assemblage accumulation all other taphonomic factors at a site must first be considered. A site-specific framework was established by using data on the depositional environment and palaeoecology. This provided a context for the primary zooarchaeological data (faunal material: all elements and bone surface modification) and helped explain the impact and importance of faunal accumulators and modifiers
contextual_study faunal_assemblage lower_middle_palaeolithic sit represent site_specific holistic analysis_faunal assemblage formation four_key palaeolithic site principally test priori assumption lithic tool modify large medium_sized fauna recover pleistocene deposit represent cultural accumulation direct_evidence past hominin meat procurement behaviour frequently association lithics modify fauna site use_support either active large mammal hunting hominins strategy hominin bone surface modification cut mark deliberate fracture highlight input site use isolation taphonomic modifier evidence cultural accumulation role hominins faunal_assemblage accumulation taphonomic factor site must first consider site_specific framework_establish use data depositional environment palaeoecology provide_context primary zooarchaeological_data faunal material element bone surface modification help_explain impact importance faunal modifier