BEAR IN MIND: BEAR HUNTING IN THE MESOLITHIC OF THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS

G Bar-Oz,A Belfer-Cohen,T Meshveliani,N Jakeli,Z Matskevich,O Bar-Yosef

doi:10.1016/j.aeae.2009.05.002

Abstract

We present new faunal data from Kotias Klde rockshelter, Republic of Georgia, where a substantial part of the faunalv assemblage consists of brown bear remains (Ursus arctos) found in clear association with Mesolithic artifacts. Bear remains are unusually well represented in comparison with other faunal assemblages from the Caucasus and Eurasia in general. The diversity of species, dominance of young individuals, full representation of skeletal elements, and skinning butchery marks indicate that bears were actively hunted. Such an endeavor of hunting denotes the complex network of relationships that linked the Mesolithic hunting societies with the animal world surrounding them.

Highlights

The regular hunting episodes throughout the Middle, Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic across Eurasia involved the acquisition of large prime-age herbivorous prey
Evidence for the killing of bear outside the hibernating season is crucial to recognizing active hunting activities of past foragers. It is from this viewpoint that we examine new faunal data from Kotias Klde rockshelter, western Georgia, where a substantial part of the Mesolithic faunal assemblage consists of brown bear remains found in clear stratigraphic and spatial association with Mesolithic artifacts (Meshveliani et al, 2008)
The majority of bones are of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and brown bear (Ursus arctos), constituting more than 75% of Kotias Klde assemblage (Appendix)

Summary

Published Version Citable link Terms of Use

Bar-Oz, Guy, Anna Belfer-Cohen, Tengiz Meshveliani, Nino Jakeli, Zinovi Matskevich, and Ofer Bar-Yosef. 2009. Bar-Oz, Guy, Anna Belfer-Cohen, Tengiz Meshveliani, Nino Jakeli, Zinovi Matskevich, and Ofer Bar-Yosef. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 37(1): 15-24. Please cite as: Bar-Oz, G., Belfer-Cohen., Meshveliani, T., Jakeli, N., Matskevich, Z. and Bar-Yosef, O. Bear in mind: bear hunting in the Mesolithic of the southern Caucasus. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia, in press

Introduction

The faunal assemblage

Discussion

Findings

Forelim b