Systematic butchering of fallow deer (Dama) at the early middle Pleistocene Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (Israel)
- PMID:17868780
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2007.07.007
Systematic butchering of fallow deer (Dama) at the early middle Pleistocene Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (Israel)
Abstract
Three assemblages of fallow deer (Dama sp.) bones excavated from the early middle Pleistocene (oxygen isotope stage 18) layers of the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel, furnish evidence of systematic and repeated exploitation of complete carcasses by hominins. The excellent state of preservation of the bones and the presence of only minimal signs of carnivore involvement permit an investigation of the role of hominins as the primary agents responsible for the damage to these bones. Hominin expertise in dealing with fallow deer carcasses is manifested by cut marks, percussion marks, and hack marks on the bones. The archaeozoological analysis of the anatomical position and frequency of these marks suggests that carcass processing followed systematic practices that reflect an in-depth knowledge of fallow deer anatomy and a consistent behavioral strategy. These assemblages represent one of the earliest examples of methodological butchering practices in Eurasia. The evidence of carcass processing observed at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov resembles that seen in late Pleistocene sites in Israel, which were inhabited by modern humans. We interpret the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov data as indicating that the Acheulian hunters at the site (1) were proficient communicators and learners and (2) possessed anatomical knowledge, considerable manual skill, impressive technological abilities, and foresight.
Similar articles
- Spatial organization of hominin activities at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel.Alperson-Afil N, Sharon G, Kislev M, Melamed Y, Zohar I, Ashkenazi S, Rabinovich R, Biton R, Werker E, Hartman G, Feibel C, Goren-Inbar N.Alperson-Afil N, et al.Science. 2009 Dec 18;326(5960):1677-80. doi: 10.1126/science.1180695.Science. 2009.PMID:20019284
- The Early-Middle Pleistocene faunal assemblages of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov: Inter-site variability.Rabinovich R, Biton R.Rabinovich R, et al.J Hum Evol. 2011 Apr;60(4):357-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2010.12.002. Epub 2011 Jan 20.J Hum Evol. 2011.PMID:21255819
- Nuts, nut cracking, and pitted stones at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel.Goren-Inbar N, Sharon G, Melamed Y, Kislev M.Goren-Inbar N, et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Feb 19;99(4):2455-60. doi: 10.1073/pnas.032570499.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002.PMID:11854536Free PMC article.
- Flaked stones and old bones: biological and cultural evolution at the dawn of technology.Plummer T.Plummer T.Am J Phys Anthropol. 2004;Suppl 39:118-64. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.20157.Am J Phys Anthropol. 2004.PMID:15605391Review.
- The revolution that wasn't: a new interpretation of the origin of modern human behavior.Mcbrearty S, Brooks AS.Mcbrearty S, et al.J Hum Evol. 2000 Nov;39(5):453-563. doi: 10.1006/jhev.2000.0435.J Hum Evol. 2000.PMID:11102266Review.
Cited by
- An experimental investigation of the functional hypothesis and evolutionary advantage of stone-tipped spears.Wilkins J, Schoville BJ, Brown KS.Wilkins J, et al.PLoS One. 2014 Aug 27;9(8):e104514. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104514. eCollection 2014.PLoS One. 2014.PMID:25162397Free PMC article.
- Cooperative hunting and meat sharing 400-200 kya at Qesem Cave, Israel.Stiner MC, Barkai R, Gopher A.Stiner MC, et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Aug 11;106(32):13207-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0900564106. Epub 2009 Jul 28.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009.PMID:19666542Free PMC article.
- Abundance or stress? Faunal exploitation patterns and subsistence strategies: The case study of Brush Hut 1 at Ohalo II, a submerged 23,000-year-old camp in the Sea of Galilee, Israel.Steiner T, Biton R, Nadel D, Rivals F, Rabinovich R.Steiner T, et al.PLoS One. 2022 Jan 26;17(1):e0262434. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262434. eCollection 2022.PLoS One. 2022.PMID:35081165Free PMC article.
- Archaeological evidence for thinking about possibilities in hominin evolution.Langley MC, Suddendorf T.Langley MC, et al.Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2022 Dec 19;377(1866):20210350. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0350. Epub 2022 Oct 31.Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2022.PMID:36314159Free PMC article.Review.
- Before Cumulative Culture : The Evolutionary Origins of Overimitation and Shared Intentionality.Shipton C, Nielsen M.Shipton C, et al.Hum Nat. 2015 Sep;26(3):331-45. doi: 10.1007/s12110-015-9233-8.Hum Nat. 2015.PMID:26156574
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources