Carnivore tooth marks and stone tool butchery marks on scavenged bones: archaeological implications

Abstract

Abstract This paper compares naturalistic observations on carnivore feeding behavior and carcass abandonment to results of experimental butchery of long bones collected after carcasses were abandoned by carnivores. Experiments were conducted to assess the incidence of butchery marks and carnivore tooth marks on long bones where butchery followed carnivore defleshing of limbs. One hundred and sixty-eight long bones beating marrow and occasionally scraps of flesh were collected after carcasses were abandoned by free-ranging East African carnivores including lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and jackals. Flesh scraps and marrow were removed using lithic materials found commonly at Plio-Pleistocene archaeological sites. Minimally, marrow was recovered from all long bones. However, marrow was generally the only nutrient available on limbs from carcasses defleshed by nine or more carnivores. Conversely, both flesh scraps and marrow were frequently available on limbs from carcasses abandoned by solitary carnivores or groups of carnivores comprised of fewer than five animals. Data presented indicate that the incidence of butchery marks and carnivore tooth marks is related to the condition of bones upon carnivore abandonment. Quantitative data are presented on the incidence of long bone specimens bearing at least one carnivore tooth mark, one cut mark or one hammerstone percussion mark. Variability within the sample is examined with respect to the ratios of carnivore tooth marks and butchery marks on bones defleshed by different numbers of carnivores. Results indicate that variability within the sample is related to the number of carnivores involved in defleshing bones. Data presented provide a controlled basis for evaluating similar marks in archaeological bone assemblages.