Fish Bone Assemblages Research Articles

Mass capture fishing in the Marquesas Islands

ABSTRACTMass capture of small fishes with a variety of nets, traps, and weirs was widely practiced and economically important across East Polynesia at western contact. Archaeological research, however, has suggested these technologies were less important during the early settlement period and gained prominence over time. Several explanations have been proposed, including resource depression, changes in marine environments, and/or social and economic reorientations. In the Marquesas Islands, pelagic and offshore fishes were historically well represented in early assemblages relative to most Polynesian islands. Here we report on fishbone assemblages from Nuku Hiva Island that were recovered with fine mesh screens, identified using a wide range of skeletal elements, and analysed with morphometric methods. The Hakaea Beach results demonstrate that mass capture of small fishes was especially important at this locality and sustained over three early, successive occupations. These patterns may reflect the nature of the local fisheries, preferential use of high‐return capture strategies in this reef‐limited setting, and/or purposeful avoidance of ciguatera‐prone fishes and a preference for less vulnerable fishes. Overall, our findings highlight geographic variation in early Marquesan fisheries and provide archaeological evidence that mass capture technologies had an important place in the maritime toolkits of the earliest East Polynesian fishers.

Evidence for the cooking of fish 780,000 years ago at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel.

Although cooking is regarded as a key element in the evolutionary success of the genus Homo, impacting various biological and social aspects, when intentional cooking first began remains unknown. The early Middle Pleistocene site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel (marine isotope stages 18-20; ~0.78 million years ago), has preserved evidence of hearth-related hominin activities and large numbers of freshwater fish remains (>40,000). A taphonomic study and isotopic analyses revealed significant differences between the characteristics of the fish bone assemblages recovered in eight sequential archaeological horizons of Area B (Layer II-6 levels 1-7) and natural fish bone assemblages (identified in Area A). Gesher Benot Ya'aqov archaeological horizons II-6 L1-7 exhibited low fish species richness, with a clear preference for two species of large Cyprinidae (Luciobarbus longiceps and Carasobarbus canis) and the almost total absence of fish bones in contrast to the richness of pharyngeal teeth (>95%). Most of the pharyngeal teeth recovered in archaeological horizons II-6 L1-7 were spatially associated with 'phantom' hearths (clusters of burnt flint microartifacts). Size-strain analysis using X-ray powder diffraction provided evidence that these teeth had been exposed to low temperature (<500 °C), suggesting, together with the archaeological and taphonomic data, that the fish from the archaeological horizons of Area B had been cooked and consumed on site. This is the earliest evidence of cooking by hominins.

Continuity and variability in prehistoric fishing practices by Homo sapiens in Island Southeast Asia: new ichthyofaunal data from Asitau Kuru, Timor-Leste

ABSTRACTHuman adaptations to marine resources were critical in the successful colonization of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) and the Pacific since the Late Pleistocene. Fishing the dense biomass of ichthyofauna present in this maritime region required the cognitive capability to conceptualize fish ecology and develop methods and technologies to exploit these challenging underwater environments. This likely gave our species an edge over other hominin species in depauperate island landscapes. This paper reviews the limited number of archaeological sites in ISEA where fish bone assemblages and fishing gears have been recovered, incorporating new archaeological data from the site of Asitau Kuru (Jerimalai), Timor-Leste. Our findings indicate continuity in fishing behavior over several millennia with a near-shore exploitation of local marine habitats including trolling, line fishing and spearing. These data indicate the ecological plasticity of our species and the enduring fishing traditions passed on to generations through learned behavior.

Wild food in an urban environment: freshwater fish consumption in the archaic town of Forcello (northern Italy)

In northern Italy's Po Plain, Etruscan cities flourished during the Archaic period (c. 6th-4th centuries BC), thanks to an organized and dynamic commercial network that linked these centres with Italy, Europe, and the Mediterranean. This new urban network had a significant impact on the territory it occupied, and zooarchaeological studies document the emergence of a new agricultural strategy and livestock improvement. While there is ample evidence for how these Etruscan communities shaped their urban environments and agricultural hinterland, their relationship with wild resources – outside of prestige hunting – is poorly understood. As a result of taphonomic and recovery biases, zooarchaeological assemblages representing small wild taxa like fish and birds are rare. In this context, the fish bone assemblage from the Archaic harbour town of Forcello offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate wild resource exploitation in an urban context. Here we present an initial analysis of the ichthyological assemblage and place results in their broader zooarchaeological and cultural context. Results suggest a fishing strategy that privileged large, line-caught fish, with a significant degree of continuity in species representation over pre- and proto-history. While the amount of food furnished by fishing was minimal compared to that from domestic livestock, wild foods including fish were the main source of diversity in the diet: a role which may have influenced their relatively greater visibility in Etruscan ritual practices.

Neanderthal foraging in freshwater ecosystems: A reappraisal of the Middle Paleolithic archaeological fish record from continental Western Europe

The prevalence of large game found in association with Middle Paleolithic tools has traditionally biased our ideas of Neanderthal subsistence practices. Studies document the exploitation of small mammals, birds, and plants by Neanderthals, whereas data on aquatic resources are still scarce and data on fish are almost non-existent. This article presents a review of fish remains from 11 Middle Palaeolithic fish bone assemblages from well contextualized sites in Belgium, France and Spain. It explores the nature of the evidence in order to determine whether Neanderthal fished and if so, whether fishing was a casual, opportunistic activity or a systematic practice. The first issue to address is whether archaeological fish remains at any given site represent human activity or not. Our study tests that assertion while enhancing our understanding of the diversity of food alternatives available to Neanderthals at any given site, and their ability to adapt to them. Methodological protocols include quantification, body mass and length estimations, and, whenever possible, spatial distribution of fish remains, taphonomic analyses and inference of the season of death. This methodology constitutes an analytical protocol to assess the contribution of fish to the human diet during the Paleolithic and set apart human-generated fish deposits from those generated by alternative fish accumulators. The evidence gathered so far points essentially to circumstantial fishing by Neanderthals, and the question must necessarily remain open for the moment. Nevertheless, some of the evidence, in particular the presence of large (>1 kg) fish in anthropogenic deposits and the absence of animal digestive traces and gnawing marks on fish bones in such deposits, seems compelling and suggests that Neanderthals could have played a role in the accumulation of some of these remains.

An aid to the identification of fish bones from southeast Arabia: The influence of reference collections on taxonomic diversity

AbstractIdentification of fish bones from archaeological sites in southeast Arabia is challenging because of high taxonomic diversity, comparatively few reference collections with a wide range of species, as well as access to these resources. This paper provides illustrations of bones from many common taxonomic groups of fish from the southeast Arabia including several species of fish identified in very few assemblages, probably because of the lack of comparative reference material. This is a guide to aid other analysts in the identification process. We also consider the effect of reference collection size on the taxonomic diversity of analysed fish bone assemblages and conclude that research would benefit by the publication of further identification guides. Ideally these should include differences between closely related species, as this has a significant impact on the taxonomic diversity of archaeo‐ichthyological assemblages. Although many papers are devoted to the influence of sample size, recovery method or recording protocols on the taxonomic diversity of faunal assemblages, a similar discussion on the effect of the reference collection used is often overlooked.

An ichthyoarchaeological investigation into the Harappan settlement at Kanmer in Gujarat, India

Through an ichthyoarchaeological approach, 452 fish skeletal elements were identified to taxonomic levels from 1220 fragments of fish bones from the excavation of Harappan settlement at Kanmer in Gujarat datable to c. 2600–1900 BCE. Nine fish families were identified which include Latidae, Bagridae, Sparidae, Ariidae, Siluridae, Carcharhinidae/Dasyatidae, Cyprinidae, Haemulidae and Sciaenidae. This paper presents aspects of fish utilization at Kanmer which include the diversity of fish species used, the temporal changes in fish consumption, the spatial distribution of fish, the pattern of fish processing, fishing environments and their reflections on climatic changes. At the site, the marine fishery was dominated along with the parallel existence of freshwater fishery and the latter was intensified during the late part of the occupation. The pattern of fish processing, preservation and distribution was observed from the bone modification evidence and fish skeletal element distribution. Furthermore, the fish remains reveal information regarding the fishing environments and implications in the climatic changes in the region of Gulf of Kachchh. Significantly, this study contributes to the overall understanding of the subsistence (animal and plant-based) of the Harappans at Kanmer, in addition to emphasising the potential of ichthyoarchaeological studies in the South Asian region. Such approaches, so far, have been lacking in this region despite the presence of fish bone assemblages from excavations in significant quantities.

When less is more: Element selection as sampling strategy in zooarchaeology

Zooarchaeologists make a range of analytical decisions that affect taxonomic identifications, measures of abundance, and, by extension, socio-environmental interpretations. One decision that is often not documented and/or justified is the question of which skeletal elements, or element fragments, should be identified. This situation is especially concerning for, but not limited to, zooarchaeological analysis of fish remains, as ichthyoarchaeologists have historically adopted varied approaches to element selection for taxonomic identification, ranging from identification of a few distinctive jaw elements to attempted identifications for all elements. Here, we argue the process of element selection should be approached more intentionally as a sampling issue, which would provide a framework for evaluating whether identified samples are representative of the recovered assemblages from which they derive, and potentially improve the efficiency of analysis. We use nestedness analysis and sampling to redundancy to illustrate the effects of element selection on taxonomic richness and relative abundances in fishbone assemblages from three cultural and biogeographic regions: the northeast Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands, and Aotearoa New Zealand. We find that both methods are effective for evaluating the representativeness of identified assemblages based on varied element sets, and our results demonstrate that, in many assemblages, identifying all elements provides redundant information about taxonomic representation (richness and relative abundance). In such cases, one could select fewer elements for identification and spend more time examining remains from additional parts of a site or carrying out specialized analyses, which would provide new insights about past environments or human-animal relationships. The proposed analytical strategy aims to help zooarchaeologists justify and make informed decisions about how many and which specific elements to include in any given analysis. Our study adds to the growing discourse on best practices in zooarchaeology.

Mass Harvesting, Ichthyofaunal Assemblages, and Ancestral Paiute Fishing in the North American Great Basin

Documenting variability in the archaeological record is critical to our understanding human fishing adaptations in the North American Great Basin over time. Unfortunately, in the absence of robust middle range techniques for interpreting fishbone assemblages, many studies have been limited in their capacity to engage in theoretical discussions of the role of fishing in forager subsistence regimes. The Northern Paiute in Oregon and Nevada exploited seasonally aggregated tui chub (Siphateles bicolor) through mass-harvesting techniques using nets and baskets. This article integrates experimental studies with ethnographic and archaeological data to infer the types of fishing gear that were used from the reconstructed sizes of tui chub remains. The mean size of fish assemblages is compared to the coefficient of variation to identify fishing techniques based on the size parameters of gear types, and a technology investment model is used to assess regional variations in commitments to fishing in open lake and marshland settings. Results are compared to tui chub assemblages from two protohistoric archaeological sites in eastern Oregon, revealing two distinctive fishing strategies with general implications for the organization of labor by hunter-gatherer fisherfolk.

Calling Time on Oronsay: Revising Settlement Models Around the Mesolithic–Neolithic Transition in Western Scotland, New Evidence from Port Lobh, Colonsay

For over 120 years, the shell middens of western Scotland and the series of open-air sites on Oronsay have been the focus of debate in European Mesolithic studies. This paper challenges the significance of Oronsay in light of results from the geophysical survey and test-excavation of a new limpet and periwinkle shell midden dated to the late 5th or start of the 4th millennium calbcat Port Lobh, Colonsay that offers fresh evidence to re-evaluate critically the role of Oronsay and coastal resources in island settlement models ahead of the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition. Test excavations recovered a marine molluscan assemblage dominated by limpet and periwinkle shells together with crab, sea urchin, a fishbone assemblage composed mainly of Gadidae, some identifiable bird and mammal bone, carbonised macroplant remains, and pumice as well as a bipolar lithic assemblage and coarse stone implements. Novel seasonality studies of saithe otolith thin-sections suggest wintertime tidal fishing practices. At least two activity events may be discerned, dating from the late 5th millennium calbc. The midden could represent a small number of rapidly deposited assemblages or maybe the result of stocastic events within a more extended timeframe. We argue that alternative research questions are needed to advance long-standing debates about seasonal inter-island mobility versus island sedentism that look beyond Oronsay to better understand later Mesolithic occupation patterns and the formation and date of Oronsay middens. We propose alternative methodological strategies to aid identification of contemporaneous sites using geophysical techniques and lithic technological signatures.

The Varying Role of Vertebrae in Pacific Fishbone Analysis: Comparing Tropical Versus Temperate Midden Assemblages

AbstractArchaeologists working in the tropical Pacific have demonstrated the feasibility and value of including fish vertebrae in midden analyses, and recent New Zealand studies draw similar conclusions. This work provides an illustrated guide to the identification of vertebrae from key New Zealand fish taxa and shows the effects of including vertebrae on a large fishbone assemblage from southern New Zealand. We note major differences between New Zealand and tropical Pacific assemblages resulting from the inclusion of vertebrae. Unlike the Indo‐Pacific taxa of the tropical Pacific, no New Zealand species have been shown to be sensitive to the inclusion of vertebrae. In both places, including vertebrae results in changes in relative abundance and rank order; but in New Zealand, this is a function of processing practices, not fishing behaviours. This work serves to highlight changes in the Polynesian fishing adaption following the colonisation of New Zealand. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

The influence of fish bone morphology on aquatic transport: An experimental approach through elements of Creole perch (Percichthyidae: Percichthys trucha; [Valenciennes, 1833

Many archaeological sites with fish remains are situated near ancient or current water courses. The origin of these time-averaged contexts requires an analysis considering possible non-human contributions and specifically the role of water as a highly selective agent. Element shape is a critical factor in all transport processes, but it has received little attention. The aim of this experimental work is to explore the hydrodynamic transport of fish bones considering the shape of anatomical elements. Different elements from Creole perch (Percichthyidae: Percichthys trucha; [Valenciennes, 1833]) individuals are utilized in dry conditions and under three different flow speeds. Transport groups, mode of transport and distance travelled are evaluated according to the shape of the elements. Fish vertebrae have the greatest transport potential. This experimental study indicates that hydrologic processes can impose biases giving a unique skeletal element composition in fish bone assemblages. A simplified differential transport model is proposed and an archaeological application of it is essayed.

Paleohydrology of China Lake basin and the context of early human occupation in the northwestern Mojave Desert, USA

Considerable prior research has focused on the interconnected pluvial basins of Owens Lake and Searles Lake, resulting in a long record of paleohydrological change in the lower Owens River system. However, the published record is poorly resolved or contradictory for the period encompassing the terminal Pleistocene (22,000 to 11,600 cal BP) and early Holocene (11,600–8200 cal BP). This has resulted in conflicting interpretations about the timing of lacustrine high stands within the intermediate basin of China Lake, which harbors one of the most extensive records of early human occupation in the western Great Basin and California. Here, we report a broad range of radiocarbon-dated paleoenvironmental evidence, including lacustrine deposits and shoreline features, tufa outcrops, and mollusk, ostracode, and fish bone assemblages, as well as spring and other groundwater-related deposits (a.k.a. “black mats”) from throughout China Lake basin, its outlet, and inflow drainages. Based on 98 radiocarbon dates, we develop independent evidence for five significant lake-level oscillations between 18,000 and 13,000 cal BP, and document the persistence of groundwater-fed wetlands from the beginning of the Younger Dryas through the early Holocene (12,900–8200 cal BP); including the transition from ground-water fed lake to freshwater marsh between about 13,000 and 12,600 cal BP. Results of this study support and refine existing evidence that shows rapid, high-amplitude oscillations in the water balance of the Owens River system during the terminal Pleistocene, and suggest widespread human use of China Lake basin began during the Younger Dryas.

Cod Heads, Stockfish, and Dried Spurdog: Unexpected Commodities in Nya Lödöse (1473–1624), Sweden

During medieval and early modern times, fish products were intensively traded over long distances. Fish was an important part of the diet, and there was a wide range of fresh as well as preserved fish for the consumers to choose among. In this article the fish bone assemblage from the town Nya Lodose (1473–1624), Sweden, is used to explore what kind of fish were available for the inhabitants to buy. Marine fish was generally preferred over freshwater species, and while the deep sea fishing most probably was highly professionalized, fishing in lakes and rivers must have been rare. Most importantly, the article reviews the evidence for different kinds of fish commodities identified in the assemblage from Nya Lodose. Except from stockfish and herring, dried heads from large cod and ling, as well as dried pike, flatfish, and spurdog were also identified.

Windward vs. leeward: Inter-site variation in marine resource exploitation on Ebon Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands

The variation in windward and leeward marine environments has been linked to distinctions in marine subsistence on large, high volcanic Pacific Islands, but these patterns have not been explored on low coral atolls. We document windward vs. leeward islet site variation in the taxonomic composition of fish bone and mollusc shell assemblages from three archaeological sites at Ebon Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, to elucidate the relationship between local environment, archaeological site type and the taxonomic composition of marine archaeofaunal assemblages. While the representation of taxa at each site was broadly similar in terms of measures of taxonomic heterogeneity (richness, evenness and dominance), chord distance and correspondence analysis reported variation in taxonomic composition at each site. For mollusc shell assemblages, variation in taxonomic abundance indicates the influence of the marine environments adjacent to each site and the relative exposure of these coastlines to heavy surf, wind, waves and extreme weather events. Fish bone assemblages recovered from 6.4mm screens had less inter-site variation in richness, evenness and rank order, but differences were noted in the rank order of fish taxa recovered from selective 3.2mm screening of archaeological deposits when compared between sites. In contrast to patterns for molluscs, variation in the taxonomic composition of fish bone assemblages likely relates to site function, rather than the marine environments adjacent to each site. These trends highlight for the first time the complex range of factors that influenced the prehistoric acquisition of marine resources between leeward and windward islets, and document variation in prehistoric marine subsistence within one atoll.

El Collado shell midden and the exploitation patterns of littoral resources during the Mesolithic in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula

The 1980s excavations at the El Collado, a large open-air Mesolithic site on the Eastern coast of Spain, revealed a sequence of human occupations consisting of a large shell midden and 14 human burials dated to the Mesolithic period. Human palaeodietary reconstructions based on bone collagen δ13C and δ15N isotope ratios, identified a variable contribution of marine proteins, ranging from fully terrestrial diets to a maximum input of 25%. Most subsequent research on Mediterranean coastal and dietary adaptations refers to the site's funerary record and palaeodietary study, but the composition of its shell midden has remained unstudied.This work reports the first systematic study of a representative sample of mollusc and a comparatively small assemblage of fish bone recovered from the different stratigraphic horizons of El Collado site. Results indicate a mixed marine–terrestrial mollusc composition of the shell midden. The edible land snail Sphincterochila candidissima and the marine bivalve Cerastoderma glaucum are the best represented species throughout the archaeological sequence. The pattern of intertidal resource exploitation is clearly dominated by bivalves (C. glaucum, Glycimeris violacescens, and Ruditapes decussatus) and gastropods (Cerithium vulgatum, Hexaplex trunculus) inhabiting mud and sand flats in coastal lagoon environments. The presence of rocky shore intertidal species is minimal, mostly related to the manufacture of pierced shell ornaments made from Columbella rustica. On the other hand, fish bone assemblages are overwhelmingly dominated by the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) a coastal species frequent in brackish water coastal lagoons and estuaries, both on rocky and sandy grounds. The biometric analysis of C. glaucum records differences on shell size amongst the different layers, suggesting variations of marine productivity throughout the archaeological sequence.

Dietary freshwater reservoir effects and the radiocarbon ages of prehistoric human bones from Zvejnieki, Latvia

Aquatic food resources (fish and molluscs) were exploited intensively at Riņņukalns, a Neolithic freshwater shell midden at the outlet of Lake Burtnieks, north-eastern Latvia. Stable isotope data (δ15N and δ13C) from a rich fishbone assemblage and a wide range of terrestrial species complement published results on faunal samples from the famous prehistoric cemetery and settlement at Zvejnieki, on the same lake. Stable isotope data show that freshwater food resources made substantial but varying contributions to human diets at Zvejnieki and Riņņukalns throughout the Mesolithic and Neolithic. Our research has also shown significant radiocarbon freshwater reservoir effects (FRE) in aquatic species from Lake Burtnieks, which would presumably have affected the radiocarbon ages of prehistoric human remains, and may explain some apparent anomalies in published dates from Zvejnieki burials.We present new radiocarbon and stable isotope results from a multiple burial at Zvejnieki, of five contemporaneous individuals, whose remains are being re-examined to assess evidence of interpersonal violence. Contrary to earlier interpretations, our data show that differences between individuals in the amount of fish consumed would account for the 300-year spread in their radiocarbon ages, given the isotope data and our estimate of the effective FRE in local fish. Our FRE-corrected calibrated dates for these five individuals are therefore compatible with a single burial date. We propose that these models can be used to correct the calibrated radiocarbon ages of other Zvejnieki burials for dietary FRE, provided that the individuals concerned consumed mainly local resources. The same methodology can also be applied elsewhere, as long as local isotopic and FRE values are well understood, and values for terrestrial and aquatic species are sufficiently different.

Four thousand years of western Torres Strait fishing in the Pacific-wide context

Situated just north of Cape York Peninsula, Australia, the western Torres Strait islands reveals the earliest archaeological evidence for human occupation of Torres Strait at 9000years ago on Badu. The first evidence for marine resource use of fish and turtle dates to ~7200cal BP. We describe the salient information on marine exploitation from the ethnographic record, summarise the evidence for shark/ray and finfish exploitation from faunal assemblages excavated at six sites (dating to the past 4000years) using similar standardised techniques, then compare the archaeological data for fishing to other sites across the tropical Pacific Islands. Using the number of identified specimens (NISP) for all six western Torres Strait assemblages (n=1927), sharks and rays (taxa including Elasmobranchii, Myliobatidiformes or stingrays, four shark familes, and the porcupine ray or Urogymnus asperrimus) accounted for 59.9% of all identified elements. The most abundant finfish were wrasses (Labridae, mostly Bodianus sp.) at 21.3%, parrotfish (Scaridae) 6.3% and groupers (Serranidae) at 2.5%. Seven families provided the remaining ~10%. Fish size was estimated by measuring the diameter of finfish and shark/ray vertebrae, length of emperor otoliths and widths of pharyngeal grinding clusters of parrotfish and wrasses. Live length was commonly <10cm for finfish and ~1m for sharks. This small size of the fish represented in sites throughout western Torres Strait reflects a forager capture strategy probably undertaken primarily by women and children walking along the reef flat at low tide gleaning fish stranded in tide pools and shallow water channels. Ethnographically, small fish are targeted due to their superior ‘sweeter’ taste compared to larger fish. Complementary ethnographic and archaeological information indicates that the bulk of marine protein came from socially prestigious dugongs and especially turtles hunted by men. Small sharks may have been targeted when attracted to shoreline dugong/turtle butchering events. No archaeological evidence for fishing technology such as shell fishhooks has been recovered from archaeological excavations. The western Torres Strait islands are unique within the greater tropical Pacific islands region because of: 1) low fish species richness of the assemblages; 2) dominance of sharks and rays in the combined assemblages accounting for ~60% NISP; and 3) small reconstructed length of captured finfish and shark/rays; and, as a consequence, the lack of evidence for an intensive fishery. Further studies of fish bone assemblages from across the 150km of Torres Strait may demonstrate that this is a common pattern for the region but, if not, documenting the variability of the fishery will be an important task.

Applications of vertebral morphometrics in Pacific Island archaeological fishing studies

AbstractSignificant differences between fish bone identification protocols in Pacific Island archaeology and other regions (e.g. Europe and North America) have influenced the use of vertebral morphometrics for the reconstruction of fish length and weight. Fish vertebral morphometrics using vertebrae identified to taxon and type (e.g. caudal, thoracic) are routinely reported in the archaeological literature outside of the Pacific Islands. Conversely, in Pacific Island archaeological fishing studies, vertebrae that are not identified to taxon have been utilised to assess change in average fish vertebrae size, and to reconstruct changes in fish length and weight over time. Using a fish bone assemblage from a prehistoric habitation site on Ebon Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, we report false trends when vertebrae – not identified to taxon and type – are used to assess differences in average vertebrae size among cultural layers. These results are compared to the same assemblage where taxon and vertebra type are used to more accurately determine fish size. It is essential that vertebrae from Pacific Island fish bone assemblages are identified to taxon and type prior to assessing change in fish size over time, especially when investigating human impacts to finfish resources, capture technology or charting environmental change.

Una aproximación tafonómica a los restos de peces en Laguna Llancanelo (Mendoza)

The study of fish remains accumulations in archaeological contexts near to lacustrine environments requires an analysis that considers possible non-human contributions. This is the case of fish bone assemblages recovered from Llan 50 site, on the western margin of Llancanelo lagoon (Mendoza, Argentina). This paper aims to explore the processes involved in the formation of this ichthyoarchaeological assemblage, determining wether these remains were deposited naturally or as a result of human action. Consequently, the composition of bone assemblages of Llan 50 are compared with those observed for fish natural accumulations at the same study area. Natural deposits’ potential characteristics from Llancanelo are recognized and some useful criteria to differentiate the assemblage origin in this context are distinguished, which would suggest mainly an anthropic origin for the archaeological assemblage Llan 50.