An Ethnoarchaeological Contribution to Identifying Hominid Fish Processing Sites

Abstract

Nineteen fishing camps created by Dassanetch and Turkana on the shores of Lake Turkana, Kenya were documented for location, physical characteristics, taxonomic and skeletal element composition, and bone modifications. The camps showed patterning in location, size and variety of vertebrate taxa. Procurement, processing and preparation activities at the camps are described, and from these we identify three patterns correlating with site function: base camps, fish processing camps, and fish waste discard sites. The bone assemblages also reflect these different patterns, based on differences in taxonomic diversity and abundance, skeletal element patterns and bone modifications. The assemblages differ from natural fish bone accumulations at Lake Turkana in having lower taxonomic and size diversity, different skeletal element representation, and distinctive bone modifications. Although possession of modern implements makes some characteristics of the fishing camp assemblages distinctive to modern humans, other features, including restricted taxonomic and size diversity and certain bone modifications, should characterize earlier hominid fish exploitation sites.