Taphonomy of Palaeloxodon antiquus at Castel di Guido (Rome, Italy): Proboscidean carcass exploitation in the Lower Palaeolithic

Abstract

Field investigations at Castel di Guido revealed a Middle Pleistocene open-air site containing macrofaunal remains associated with Acheulean industry. The large majority of the remains lay at the bottom of a depressed area, which probably evolved into a low energy freshwater basin after the deposition of the assemblage.To quantify the importance of the natural processes compared to the anthropogenic ones in the formation of the site, a full taphonomic analysis of the macromammal assemblage was carried out. A geoarchaelogical study, together with a taphonomic analysis of the lithic and bone implements, is ongoing.This paper discusses the results of the study of elephant bones. The taphonomic analysis has documented traces of different modifying agents on the specimens, indicating the important role of syn- and post-depositional factors in the accumulation and modification of bones. Nevertheless, evidence of utilization of carcasses for subsistence and for tool production was detected. The study provides new data for the exploitation of elephants by hominins during the Lower Palaeolithic.