Zooarchaeology of the Middle Stone Age in Magubike Rockshelter, Iringa Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The analysis of the faunal remains from Middle Stone Age deposits of Magubike rockshelter was undertaken to contribute to the modern human behavior debate. Multivariate taphonomic analyses implicate hominins as the key taphonomic agent in the accumulation and modification of the faunal assemblage. Results also show they mainly foraged on large-sized animals as the key sources of meat and marrow. Small-sized animals were also exploited to maximize the foraging net return rates, but only in relatively small quantities. There is evidence that they transported and systematically processed fleshed or relatively complete carcasses. The majority of the cut-marked elements are the high-meat and marrow-bearing bones. The percentages of cut and percussion marks on long bone midshafts fall within the range of variations documented in experimental simulations that sought to replicate hominin primary (early) access to fully fleshed carcasses. There is also evidence that carnivores were scavenging bone fragments discarded by hominins.