Abrasion in archaeological fish bones from sand dunes. An experimental approach

Abstract

Fish bones are still an unknown tool in taphonomic studies. We have carried out several experiments which have shown that fish bones may provide key taphonomic traits. Fossil fish bones in archaeological sites (from caves to riverbanks or seashores) are frequently result of predation by humans or any other predator, as well as abiotic agents. The original environment of fish is aquatic restricted to specific water contexts and the presence of fish in fossil sites provides relevant information regarding paleoenvironments, human/animal predatory behaviors, and site formation. In spite of the interest of fossil fish remains, most taphonomic experiments have been focused on mammalian fossil bones. This paper shows results obtained from experiments that help interpreting palaeoenvironmental changes, potential space-time mixtures, and site formation. Our experiments have provided distinct criteria to distinguish the action of sand projected by wind, friction of bones against sand substrates, or sand with or without water abrading the bone surface. Experimental results have been compared to an archaeological case: El Americano II site (middle Holocene, Argentina) to elucidate how the site was formed. Criteria obtained so far from each type of experiment described here greatly increase knowledge for interpreting other sites that yield fossil fish bones.