Foram analisados fósseis de mamíferos terrestres provenientes de depósitos pleistocênicos do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, da Região da Campanha ( maioria do Arroio Touro Passo, Município de Uruguaiana), Arroio Chuí e plataforma continental. A análise teve por objetivo reconhecer e descrever alterações post mortem (pseudopaleopatologias) presentes nos fósseis e relacioná-las a condições de preservação e ambientes deposicionais distintos. Foram observadas variações na preservação entre os fósseis encontrados nos três depósitos, relacionadas ao contexto geológico, condições paleo-climáticas e processos pós-deposicionais. A ausência de fósseis de organismos de pequeno porte (como roedores) no Chuí e Touro Passo parece resultar de procesos tafonômicos, embora a falta de amostragem mais detalhada possa influenciar nesse padrão. Os fósseis do Arroio Touro Passo apresentam elevado grau de intemperismo, relacionado a condições deposicionais e paleo-climáticas distintas das observadas entre os fósseis do Arroio Chuí e plataforma. Os fósseis do Arroio Chuí são predominantemente fragmentos, que indicam elevado grau de retrabalhamento pós-deposicional, enquanto os do Touro Passo sofreram menor grau de retrabalhamento. Os fósseis provenientes da plataforma continental apresentam alterações resultantes do retrabalhamento em ambiente marinho, porém exibem características semelhantes às dos fósseis do Arroio Chuí, indicando que foram originalmente preservados em sistemas fluviais. / Fossils of terrestrial mammals from pleistocenic deposits in the Rio Grande do Sul State, in the Campanha Region, Arroio Chuí and continental platform have been analyzed. The analysis aimed at recognizing and describing post mortem alterations (pseudopaleopathologies) on the fossils and relate it to distinct preservation conditions and depositional environments. Preservational variations among fossils from the threee deposits , related to the geological context, paleoclimatic conditions and postdepositional processes were recorded. The absence of small-bodied taxa (such as rodents) at the Chuí and Touro Passo creeks may be a result of taphonomic processes, althought this pattern may be related to the lacking of detailed sampling. The fossils from the Touro Passo exhibit high degree of weathering, related to depositional and paleoclimaic conditions different from those under which the fossils from the Chuí and platform were preserved. Fossils from the Chuí Creek are mostly fragments, indicating a high degree of postdepositional reworking, while those from the Touro Passo were subject to less reworking. Fossils from the continental platform exhibit alterations that resulted from reworking in marine environment; however, there are features similar to those found in the fossils from Chuí, thus indicating that the former were originally preserved in fluvial systems.

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-06-08T17:38:11Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2012-dissertacao-PetriusBelo.pdf.pdf: 20883190 bytes, checksum: 0734db46fd439e33d9a5bb0a64199f0a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-08T17:38:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2012-dissertacao-PetriusBelo.pdf.pdf: 20883190 bytes, checksum: 0734db46fd439e33d9a5bb0a64199f0a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-31 / Sítios com interação homem-megafauna no Brasil são raros, bem como no restante da América do Sul. Muitos estudos publicados até hoje têm focalizado e discutido evidências de sítios do extremo sul do continente como, Monte Verde, no Chile e Los Toldos, na Argentina ou do extremo norte, no caso do sítio Taima-Taima, na Venezuela. Um dos mais importantes sítios escavados no Brasil está situado na Área arqueológica do Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara-PI, a “Toca da Janela da Barra do Antonião” –um abrigo sob-rocha com significativo registro da megafauna em associação estratigráfica com artefatos líticos. Vale ressaltar que nele foram encontrados fósseis com determinados padrões de fraturas e marcasde corte. Embora tenha sido escavado entre as décadas de 1980 e 1990 do século passado, alguns de seus resultados ainda são inéditos. Este trabalho objetiva estudar as marcas em ossos da megafauna em uma perspectiva de corroborar ou falsear a interferência humana na história tafonômica desses espécimes. Os fósseis com marcas de corte foram coletados em associação espacial com artefatos líticos, em um depósito cárstico utilizado como abrigo.Os táxons aqui estudados incluem: Eremotheriun, Catonyx, Notiomastodon, Hippidion, c.f Macrauchenia, Paleolama eToxodon–alguns destes apresentam marcas do tipo sulcos com secções em “V” com microestrias internas, localizadas próximas às zonas de articulações; além disso, são registrados padrões de fraturas do tipo espiral e irregular. A metodologia do trabalho consistiu em análise tafonômica em escala microscópica por meio de lupa binocular, microscópio eletrônico de varredura, fotografia digital e software específico, com o intuito de encontrar assinaturas tafonômicasque possam indicar que as marcas encontradas são de natureza antrópica, resultante da atividade de abate destes animais. Em análise preliminar foram identificadas marcas de corte paralelas encontradas em um úmero do gênero Hippidion, escavado no setor A, Nível IV. Estas marcas apresentam coloração e morfologia que indicam uma origem anterior ao processo de fossilização. Este espécime apresenta um padrão de fratura que sugere que ele foi fraturado antes dos processos diagenéticos, enquanto o osso ainda preservava sua elasticidade. A discussão sobre este tipo de vestígio está relacionada à validade das associações estratigráficas entre artefatos e fósseis, ao agente causador das marcas e se, de fato, ocorreu interferência antrópica na formação da assembleia. Sendo assim, com base no estudo tafonômico microscópico dos vestígios encontrados, pode-se afirmar que as alterações nos ossos foram elaboradas por populações pré-históricas que ocuparam este abrigo durante o final do Pleistoceno e início do Holoceno. / Sites with human-megafauna interaction are rare in Brazil and in the rest of South America. Many studies have been published which are focused on sites and discussed evidences of the extreme south of the continent as Monte Verde in Chile and Los Toldos, Argentina or the far north, where Taima-Taima site in Venezuela. One of the most important sites excavated in Brazil is located in the archaeological area of the National Park of Sierra Capybara-IP, "Toca da Janela da Barra do Antonião." –a shelter-in rock with significant record of megafauna in stratigraphic association with lithic artefacts. Besides, there were found fossils with certain patterns of fractures andcut marks. Although it was excavated between the 1980s and 1990s of the last century, some of their results are still unpublished. This paper aims to study the marks on bones of megafauna in order to corroborate or misrepresent human interference in the taphonomic history of these specimens. Fossils with cut marks were collected in spatial association with lithic artifacts in a warehouse karst used as shelter. The taxa studied here include: Eremotheriun, Catonyx, Notiomastodon, Hippidion, cf Macrauchenia, and Palaeolama Toxodon –some of these brands have the type grooves with sections on "V" with microestrias internal, situated near the joint areas; in addition, are recorded patterns of fractures type spiral and irregular. The methodology of the study consisted on taphonomic analysis on a microscopic scale through binocular microscope, scanning electron microscope, digital photography and specific software, in order to find taphonomic signatures which may indicate that the markings are anthropogenic in nature, resulting from the slaughter activity of such animals. In preliminary analysis were identified parallel cut marks found in the genre Hippidion a humerus, dug in sector A, Level IV. These brands have staining and morphology that indicate a prior origin to fossilization process. This specimen exhibits a pattern of fracture which suggests that it was fractured before the diagenetic processes, while the bone still preserved its elasticity. The discussion about this type of trace is related to the validity of stratigraphic associations between artifacts and fossils, the causative agent of brands and if, indeed, have occurred anthropogenic interference in the formation of the assembly. Therefore, based on the study of microscopic taphonomic traces found, it can be stated that the changes in the bones were prepared by prehistoric populations that occupied this shelter during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene.

The burial type referred to as bundle burials was a rare occurrence during the Neolithic era and little research has been done on the topic. Three graves from the Ajvide/Jakobs site at Eksta parish, Gotland have been identified as this specific type of burial. There are several potential explanations to why this type of burial would potentially occasionally be implemented or why the excavated remains would be found in this types of positions. The purpose of this thesis is to present and search for different explanations to this phenomenon. Furthermore, the main purpose of the study is to explore how taphonomic research can potentially deepen our knowledge regarding rituals and practices of the past, particularly within the field of mortuary archaeology. / Paketgravar under den neolitiska perioden är en ovanlig förekomst och lite forskning har gjorts om ämnet. Totalt tre paketgravar har identifierats vid Ajvide /Jakobs, Eksta socken på Gotland. Det finns många möjliga förklaringar till varför denna typ av begravning potentiellt skulle kunna praktiserats eller varför benelementen skulle kunna påträffats i dessa typer av positioner. Syftet med denna uppsats är att presentera och undersöka olika möjliga förklaringar till detta ovanliga gravskick. Vidare är syftet med studien även att utforska hur tafonomisk forskning potentiellt kan fördjupa vår kunskap om ritualer från det förflutna, framförallt inom gravarkeologi.

This project uses exploratory 3D geospatial analyses to assess the taphonomy of the Gray Fossil Site (GFS). During the Pliocene, the GFS was a forested, inundated sinkhole that accumulated biological materials between 4.9-4.5 mya. This deposit contains fossils exhibiting different preservation modes: from low energy lacustrine settings to high energy colluvial deposits. All macro-paleontological materials have been mapped in situ using survey-grade instrumentation. Vertebrate skeletal material from the site is well-preserved, but the degree of skeletal articulation varies spatially within the deposit. This analysis uses geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze the distribution of mapped specimens at different spatial scales. Factors underpinning spatial association, skeletal completeness, and positioning of specimens were examined. At the scale of the individual skeleton, analyses of the Mastodon Pit explore how element completeness and orientation/inclination of the mastodon reflect post-depositional processes.

Holocene sediments from intertidal and shallow subtidal zones in Bahia la Choya, Mexico exhibit significant differences based on their mineralogical content, constituent composition, textural parameters, and foraminiferal assemblages. The intertidal sediments are characterized by low calcium carbonate content, being dominated by quartz, and are moderately well sorted and coarse skewed with a fine mean grain size {Mz = 2.73 phi}. Total numbers {living and dead} of benthonic Foraminifera per ml of sediment are relatively low (12/ml) in the intertidal zones. In contrast, the subtidal sediments are characterized by high calcium carbonate content, being dominated by molluscan shell fragments, and are poorly sorted and nearly symmetrically skewed with a medium mean grain size {Mz = 1.41 phi}. Total numbers of benthonic Foraminifera per ml of sediment are relatively high (52/ml) in the subtidal zone. The analysis of bioerosion intensity indicates that differences in susceptibility to bioerosion exist not only at the subordinal level but also at the generic level of Foraminifera. Overall rates of test destruction are rapid, apparently due to the combination of biological, chemical, and physical processes. The experimental determination of test characteristics which correlate with settling or entrainment enables the delineation of foraminiferal morphotypes which are most likely to be transported. Test settling velocity is mostly affected by test size and weight. Movement threshold velocity is, also, mostly affected by test size, weight, and shape, in addition to the nature of the substrates and initial test orientation. Foraminifera from siliciclastic environments exhibit relatively low settling and movement threshold velocities. Thus, taxa from siliciclastic settings are more likely to be transported by currents than are those from carbonate environments, which show a wide range of settling and movement threshold velocities. Such information may be utilized to distinguish between autochthonous and allochthonous microfossil assemblages in the stratigraphic record.

Hickory Tree Cave, also known as Big Spring Cave, is located in the southern Appalachians and is known for fossils that are considered to be Quaternary in age. Fossil mammals were identified and assigned to the lowest taxonomical level possible. Most remains are fragmented or digested and it seems likely that various taphonomic processes are responsible for the resulting assemblage. The site lacks the extreme boreal component of Pleistocene cave faunas in the region (e.g. Baker Bluff Cave), with most reported taxa inhabiting Appalachian deciduous forest environments in North America today. While the presence of tapir (Tapirus sp.) suggests a pre-Holocene component for the deposit, the lack of boreal taxa may indicate that deposition occurred during a relatively warm interval.

In many cases in the past fish bones recovered during archaeological excavations at Upper Palaeolithic sites were often assumed to result from human activity without any consideration for alternate accumulation processes. Many of these assemblages had not been analysed in a scientifically rigorous manner, with some receiving no consideration at all. A review of current evidence and results of new analyses indicate that salmonids (salmon and trout) are the most frequently recorded fish at the European Palaeolithic cave sites. Two potential accumulation agents for fish remains were explored: brown bears (Ursus arctos) and eagle owls (Bubo bubo). Controlled feeding experiments integrated with ecological studies indicate that salmonid remains survive the digestive systems of both species and result in distinctive patterning in assemblage characteristics. Post-depositional taphonomic processes, such as trampling, also produce distinct taphonomic signatures and are an agent of differential inter-species preservation. A thorough consideration of depositional and post-depositional processes of archaeological assemblages in central Italy (Grotta di Pozzo, Maritza, La Punta and Ortucchio) and Spain (El Juyo, Altamira, Salitre, Castillo and Rascaño) shows that the fish remains from these sites result from human activity. The overrepresentation of cranial elements at the Italian sites suggest that fish were processed by removing the head to perhaps smoke or dry before transportation to other locations for consumption. This research lead to improved methods of analysis, and thus enhanced understanding of the role of fishing and fish consumption in Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer societies.

The dermestid beetle (Dermestes maculatus) has become renowned in the laboratory as an aid to skeletonization of remains, both for the zoologist and the anthropologist. However, little attention has been paid to the potential effects these insects can have on hard tissues and whether their traces may be mistaken for trauma or the effects of taphonomic processes. The use of dermestid beetles in the anthropology laboratory was tested by a choice experiment based on ASTM D3345-17, examining the behavior of D. maculatus regarding Styrofoam, wood, and two types of bone. Specifically, this project tested 1.) whether the beetles showed preference for a particular material (of wood, Styrofoam, dry bone, or green bone), 2.) whether material(s) had an impact on survivorship from the larval to adult stages, and 3.) what traces dermestids leave on skeletal remains and the variation in form of those traces. Results suggest dermestid beetles will preferentially bore pupal chambers in softer materials (Styrofoam > wood > dry bone > green bone), but preference is not absolute, as pits appear in dry bone even when softer materials are present. Preference did not appear to impact survivorship. Information on the “typical” form of dermestid trace on materials is presented, as an aid to identifying these features as resulting from taphonomic processes, as opposed to ante- or perimortem processes/events.

Forensic anthropology, forensic taphonomy and forensic entomology are specialties that greatly contribute to judicial investigations and the identification of a decomposing corpse. This research examines the effect of calcium oxide (CaO), known as “quicklime”, on the decomposition process of human remains in a tropical climate. Quicklime has been used since the Early Iron Age, in wars, mass graves and today by criminals, as there is a belief or social myth that it can speed up the process of decomposition of bodies. However, there are no studies on the effect of this chemical on decomposing bodies in a tropical climate. Puerto Rico, in addition to having this climate, has a high crime rate related to drug trafficking. This study uses a series (n=10) of pig (Sus scrofa) burials as a model for human corpses, which were documented through photographs and state of decomposition, as well as climatic conditions, soil pH, odor of decomposition, and the lost mass. The author hypothesizes that the tropical climate contributes to the rapid decomposition of bodies by altering their appearance and morphology; since it is warmer, bacteria multiply more quickly and the entomofauna is more active, in comparison with studies already carried out in temperate climates. In addition, quicklime helps soft tissue decomposition proceed faster and reduces decomposition odor. Among the results, it was observed that there was no acceleration in the decomposition process due to the application of calcium oxide, and this chemical does not have the qualities attributed to it by social myths regarding the complete destruction of human remains, which could be considered an advantage for investigators in cases where there is a buried corpse covered in quicklime. However, it was possible to show that among other effects of quicklime, it subjectively reduces the odor of decomposition, inhibits and/or reduces the activity of the entomofauna, maintains a soil with an alkaline pH and therefore caused the mummification of the body. It can be suggested that the tropical climate helps in an effective decomposition due to the high temperatures, the humidity, and the activity of the entomofauna. Therefore, in both temperate and tropical climates, quicklime does not accelerate the decomposition process, but in a tropical climate it can inhibit the activity of entomofauna and the odor of decomposition. Statistically, results show that the Total Body Score (TBS) did not vary significantly, but the percentage of Mass Loss (ML) had a statistical difference due to the adhesion of the compacted quicklime to the experimental carcasses which increased the overall mass and not because a difference in the actual tissue loss was measured. This is since the decay process almost stopped after 77 days of burial and the mass loss nearly ceased, because with more days of rain and humidity, the more chemical reaction quicklime does (turning it into hydrated lime), causing solidification and mummification in the experimental pig carcasses. The quicklime also maintained an alkaline pH in the pig carcasses compared to the acidic pH of the controls after the decomposition. Therefore, quicklime causes a very sudden dehydration, and, in this sense, it prevents the proliferation of bacteria and, therefore, putrefaction, causing a mummification process. In addition, with the results obtained in this investigation and in other future ones, it will be possible to add scientific, anthropological, and forensic data on the analysis of the effects of quicklime in the stages of decomposition of human remain and in different deposition environments, to establish the time elapsed between death and the moment in which the body has been buried (exposed or not to quicklime) and contribute to criminal cases.

No description available.