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Tracking taphonomy. Analysis of skeletal remains from wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Mesolithic sites in Scania, Southern Sweden

Magnell, Ola LU (2006) 8th Nordic Conference on the Application of Scientific Methods in Archaeology 21. p.57-71
Abstract
This study is an effort to describe and analyse the taphonomic history of skeletal remains of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from six Mesolithic sites. Five methods have been used to analyse the effect of different taphonomic processes. A positive correlation between bone element frequency (%MAU) and structural bone density in all but one bone sample (Segebro) indicates high taphonomic loss on the sites. No evidence of a selective transport by body parts to the sites could be identified, but fluvial transport of bones from one site have been significant. Bone fragmentation varies between the bone samples, but shows no relationship with the degree of bone survivorship on different sites. Analysis of tooth marks from... (More)
This study is an effort to describe and analyse the taphonomic history of skeletal remains of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from six Mesolithic sites. Five methods have been used to analyse the effect of different taphonomic processes. A positive correlation between bone element frequency (%MAU) and structural bone density in all but one bone sample (Segebro) indicates high taphonomic loss on the sites. No evidence of a selective transport by body parts to the sites could be identified, but fluvial transport of bones from one site have been significant. Bone fragmentation varies between the bone samples, but shows no relationship with the degree of bone survivorship on different sites. Analysis of tooth marks from carnivore gnawing and spatial distribution of bones in refuse layers and occupation areas indicates different taphonomic histories of wild boar and red deer within sites. The results accentuate the importance of making site specific studies of the effect of taphonomic processes on skeletal remains. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Archaeology and environment
editor
Engelmark, Roger
volume
21
pages
57 - 71
publisher
Environmental Archaeology Laboratory, Department of Archaeology and Saami Studies, University of Umeå
conference name
8th Nordic Conference on the Application of Scientific Methods in Archaeology
conference dates
0001-01-02
ISSN
0281-5877
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
46b81e66-3e94-462d-81b8-da789beb5b27 (old id 975964)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:48:07
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:44:18
@inproceedings{46b81e66-3e94-462d-81b8-da789beb5b27,
  abstract     = {{This study is an effort to describe and analyse the taphonomic history of skeletal remains of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from six Mesolithic sites. Five methods have been used to analyse the effect of different taphonomic processes. A positive correlation between bone element frequency (%MAU) and structural bone density in all but one bone sample (Segebro) indicates high taphonomic loss on the sites. No evidence of a selective transport by body parts to the sites could be identified, but fluvial transport of bones from one site have been significant. Bone fragmentation varies between the bone samples, but shows no relationship with the degree of bone survivorship on different sites. Analysis of tooth marks from carnivore gnawing and spatial distribution of bones in refuse layers and occupation areas indicates different taphonomic histories of wild boar and red deer within sites. The results accentuate the importance of making site specific studies of the effect of taphonomic processes on skeletal remains.}},
  author       = {{Magnell, Ola}},
  booktitle    = {{Archaeology and environment}},
  editor       = {{Engelmark, Roger}},
  issn         = {{0281-5877}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{57--71}},
  publisher    = {{Environmental Archaeology Laboratory, Department of Archaeology and Saami Studies, University of Umeå}},
  title        = {{Tracking taphonomy. Analysis of skeletal remains from wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Mesolithic sites in Scania, Southern Sweden}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}