No description available.

Drawing on the large body of taphonomic, ethnoarchaeological, and general zooarchaeological literature currently available, the main goal of this research report is to provide the first comprehensive taphonomic account of the fauna at Kalkbank in order to establish whether humans, carnivores, or other natural processes were the major accumulators of the assemblage. Through examination of species presence and abundance, patterns of bone breakage, various surface modifications to the bones, several aspects of skeletal part representation, and mortality profiles, it has been proven that carnivores were the main agent of accumulation. Furthermore, it has been determined that the site accumulated sometime during the late Pleistocene, but closely resembles several open-air sites dated from the Acheulean.

Forensic investigators encountering remains deposited in an outdoor environment face many obstacles, including the scavenging, scattering, and reconcentration of remains by local vertebrate fauna. Scattering rates can vary considerably from region to region, and are highly dependent on the indigenous scavengers present (Haglund et al. 1988; Haglund et al. 1989; Mann et al. 1990; Morton and Lord 2006). In turn, scavenger activity is highly dependent on seasonal changes, rainfall, temperature fluctuations, and environmental stressors such as seasonal resource availability and dietary changes (Brown et al. 2006; Mann et al. 1990; O’Brien et al. 2007). A more thorough knowledge of the variation in scavenging and scattering patterns of the indigenous fauna in different geographical regions would produce a more productive search pattern and increase the recovery rate of scattered remains for those involved in outdoor crime scene investigations. The current study followed and documented the behavior of the indigenous carnivorous birds and mammals, as well as the scattering patterns of these species, in Eastern Massachusetts, using five porcine (Sus scrofa) carcasses. Carcasses were deposited in lightly wooded environments under different depositional settings and tracked by low-light wildlife video cameras and radio transmitter tags attached to the long bones of some of the limbs. The major scavengers of decomposing remains were documented, and the distance and direction of scattered skeletal elements were noted, as well as any secondary depositions. This research was conducted in three phases; the first was a preliminary observation of faunal wildlife and their distribution during the early summer of 2011, followed by one 14-week observation of porcine models during midsummer of 2011 and one 6-week observation of porcine models during late summer and early fall of 2011. Results show that seasonality greatly affects scavenging activity, as carrion deposited in the summer are primarily consumed by the indigenous invertebrate community, causing accelerated decomposition and vertebrate scavenger exclusion. Additionally, though marsupials and avian species fed the longest, coyotes (Canis latrans) produced the most destructive dispersal of carrion. Moreover, although coyotes disarticulated carcasses relatively nearby the original deposition, they sought out outdoor environments that are mostly devoid of human activity to feed upon disarticulated assemblages.

No description available.

No description available.

Yes / The Covesea Caves are a series of later prehistoric sites located on the Moray Firth in north-east Scotland. Human remains have been recovered from several of these caves: the Sculptor’s Cave, Covesea Cave 1 and Covesea Cave 2 (Benton 1931; Shepherd and Shepherd 1979; Büster and Armit 2016), and display unusual characteristics that may indicate complex ritual and funerary practices (Shepherd 2007; Armit et al. 2011). However, there has been less attention given to the significant number of faunal remains from the Covesea Caves. These faunal assemblages are now the subject of research at the University of Bradford. Focused analysis of the taphonomic and processing characteristics observed on the faunal bones will examine the role of animals in the overarching narrative of the Covesea Caves, as well as further investigate the complex funerary treatments to which the human remains were subject. This paper outlines a method-driven pilot study undertaken on unstratified faunal remains from the ‘Wolf Chamber’ in Covesea Cave 2. Results from this study will be discussed and compared to select stratified remains from the main chamber of Covesea Cave 2; this will be accompanied by data collected from assessments undertaken on the main chamber faunal assemblage. Through this, the taphonomic nature of the cave environment and the role of caves in later prehistoric cosmology will be explored.

No description available.

The Hartley site (FaNp-19) is a Late Precontact Period multicomponent habitation and bison kill and processing site located on the periphery of a sand dune environment surrounded by grasslands. The Hartley site, located within the Saskatoon city limits, was originally identified by Ken Cronk and members of the Saskatoon Archaeological Society in the 1950s. Subsequent excavations by Millenium Consulting Ltd., the University of Saskatchewan, Western Heritage Services Inc., and Stantec Consulting Ltd. have all added to the database of knowledge pertaining to this site. Radiometric dates and the recovery of artifacts characteristic of the Avonlea Horizon, the Old Womens Phase, and the Mortlach Phase have demonstrated that this region was a popular place for occupation and bison procurement during the Late Precontact Period. <p>A detailed analysis of the faunal remains recovered from the area known as the Wooded Hollow has demonstrated that this assemblage differs significantly from the remains recovered from the previously researched Brushy Depression. It appears that bison were being heavily harvested and that the use of secondary faunal sources was extremely limited. Determination of seasonality is based on cluster and discriminant function analysis of carpal, tarsal, longbone and phalange data. The resulting herd structure of almost equal numbers of males and females suggests an occupation during the rut, or the fall months. Some immature elements and non-bison remains suggest occupation may have occurred in the spring. It is therefore possible that this region was utilized over a period of time for the purposes of procuring animals from the spring to the fall months. The complete lack of foetal bone in this region suggests that, unlike in the Brushy Depression, the Wooded Hollow was not occupied during the winter months. <p>Taphonomic factors were considered in performing a complete faunal analysis of this thesis. Non-human agents and associated processes suggest that the assemblage was buried quickly after the site was vacated. The extremely fragmented nature of the assemblage, however, suggests that humans had a greater effect on the assemblage than the non-human agents. Based on breakage patterns it is determined that these remains were being processed for the purposes of both marrow and grease extraction. Application of a site determination model also suggests that it is likely that both kill and processing activities occurred in this area. <p>Location of the Hartley site within a dune environment is linked to the activities that occurred at this site. A review of ethnographic accounts of bison pounding and surrounding activities has revealed that availability of ecological resources such as wood and necessary topographic features characteristic of dune environments were essential to the success of bison procurement. Although it has been suggested that settlement of these regions is also linked to the variety and stability of resources in ecotones, or areas of resource overlap, between grassland and sandhill environments, a review of several faunal assemblages from various similar Northern Plains assemblages reveals that bison was by far the dominant species exploited. Variety in terms of faunal resources may not have been a factor at all. It is therefore suggested in this thesis that settlement on the periphery of sandhill environments is linked to the presence of bison in the surrounding grassland region, as well as to the stability of the resources in wetland areas supported by high water tables in the dune environments. Also known as ecological islands these regions may have been more stable in terms of essential resources such as wood and other botanical resources, in addition to providing areas of shelter during the colder winter months. It is concluded that settlement and large scale bison procurement activities in several sandhill environments on the Northern Plains is tightly linked to availability of bison, the availability of wood, a conducive topographic setting, and the stability of resources in these ecological islands.

The Hartley site (FaNp-19) is a Late Precontact Period multicomponent habitation and bison kill and processing site located on the periphery of a sand dune environment surrounded by grasslands. The Hartley site, located within the Saskatoon city limits, was originally identified by Ken Cronk and members of the Saskatoon Archaeological Society in the 1950s. Subsequent excavations by Millenium Consulting Ltd., the University of Saskatchewan, Western Heritage Services Inc., and Stantec Consulting Ltd. have all added to the database of knowledge pertaining to this site. Radiometric dates and the recovery of artifacts characteristic of the Avonlea Horizon, the Old Womens Phase, and the Mortlach Phase have demonstrated that this region was a popular place for occupation and bison procurement during the Late Precontact Period. <p>A detailed analysis of the faunal remains recovered from the area known as the Wooded Hollow has demonstrated that this assemblage differs significantly from the remains recovered from the previously researched Brushy Depression. It appears that bison were being heavily harvested and that the use of secondary faunal sources was extremely limited. Determination of seasonality is based on cluster and discriminant function analysis of carpal, tarsal, longbone and phalange data. The resulting herd structure of almost equal numbers of males and females suggests an occupation during the rut, or the fall months. Some immature elements and non-bison remains suggest occupation may have occurred in the spring. It is therefore possible that this region was utilized over a period of time for the purposes of procuring animals from the spring to the fall months. The complete lack of foetal bone in this region suggests that, unlike in the Brushy Depression, the Wooded Hollow was not occupied during the winter months. <p>Taphonomic factors were considered in performing a complete faunal analysis of this thesis. Non-human agents and associated processes suggest that the assemblage was buried quickly after the site was vacated. The extremely fragmented nature of the assemblage, however, suggests that humans had a greater effect on the assemblage than the non-human agents. Based on breakage patterns it is determined that these remains were being processed for the purposes of both marrow and grease extraction. Application of a site determination model also suggests that it is likely that both kill and processing activities occurred in this area. <p>Location of the Hartley site within a dune environment is linked to the activities that occurred at this site. A review of ethnographic accounts of bison pounding and surrounding activities has revealed that availability of ecological resources such as wood and necessary topographic features characteristic of dune environments were essential to the success of bison procurement. Although it has been suggested that settlement of these regions is also linked to the variety and stability of resources in ecotones, or areas of resource overlap, between grassland and sandhill environments, a review of several faunal assemblages from various similar Northern Plains assemblages reveals that bison was by far the dominant species exploited. Variety in terms of faunal resources may not have been a factor at all. It is therefore suggested in this thesis that settlement on the periphery of sandhill environments is linked to the presence of bison in the surrounding grassland region, as well as to the stability of the resources in wetland areas supported by high water tables in the dune environments. Also known as ecological islands these regions may have been more stable in terms of essential resources such as wood and other botanical resources, in addition to providing areas of shelter during the colder winter months. It is concluded that settlement and large scale bison procurement activities in several sandhill environments on the Northern Plains is tightly linked to availability of bison, the availability of wood, a conducive topographic setting, and the stability of resources in these ecological islands.

The Lovstrom site (DjLx-1) is a Late Precontact multicomponent site located in the Tiger Hills of southwestern Manitoba. Two occupation levels identified in Block E are separated by an approximate 400 year time span, the oldest identified as Blackduck at 800 BP and a later Vickers Focus group occupying the site around 400 BP. Excavations took place between 1986 and 1991 as part of the Brandon University archaeological field school. In addition to the information gained from the recovery of amounts of cultural material, later excavations were also opened in an effort to gain knowledge about the amount of site disturbance. The amount of material artifacts uncovered during test pitting necessitated a number of excavation blocks be opened. This thesis focuses on the faunal material recovered from Block E. Although a number of species were identified, bison represents the vast majority of faunal material. The faunal analysis was undertaken to determine the composition of the bison herd and seasonality. Due to the nature of the site and the fragmented faunal assemblage an in-depth analysis took place to identify any taphonomic forces that may have disturbed the archaeological record. This includes both cultural and natural forces that acted on the Block E assemblage. The occupant’s butchering practices are compared and contrasted with additional comparisons made to similar nearby archaeological sites, including the Blackduck Stott site and the Vickers Focus Jackson site.