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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/5528 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Russ, Hannah |
| Contributors | Lee-Thorp, Julia A., Jones, Andrew, Heron, Carl P. |
| Publisher | University of Bradford, Division of Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences |
| Source Sets | Bradford Scholars |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, doctoral, PhD |
| Rights | <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a>. |
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