Experiments in Taphonomy

Abstract

Several long-term taphonomic experiments are described with the aim of providing comparative data with which to interpret palaeontological and archaeological sites. The study of taphonomy is an adjunct to site interpretation, especially the reconstruction of palaeoecology, and an understanding of taphonomic processes can only come about through actualistic and laboratory analyses. Experiments described include the Overton Down earthworks (32-year-old buried bone); trampled bone from Draycott (17 years old); weathered amphibian bone also from Draycott (16 years old); surface-weathered bone from Arabia (following 10 years' exposure); bone dispersal, weathering, burial, burning, and scavenging in Rhulen, Wales (with many skeletons ranging from 1 to 20 years old); and finally a series of laboratory experiments set up to test particular processes. These included earthworm activity, abrasion, breakage, and predation on small mammals. Two examples are given at the end to show how the effects of these processes can be identified in the past, and how their identification can help to resolve particular issues in two palaeontological sites. These are the middle Pleistocene deposits at Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, and middle Miocene deposits at Pasalar, Turkey.