Microvertebrate taphonomy

The presence of microvertebrates in archaeological sites can be attributed to a variety of causes, including natural ones, such as the regurgitation of microvertebrates consumed by various predators. Determining the origin of these remains is therefore of great importance to our understanding of site formation processes. In addition, the detailed study of these remains can provide complementary data on such topics as the composition of biocenoses, palaeoenvironments and the seasonality of deposits. In this study, we analyzed modern sets of regurgitated pellets of the barn owl (Tyto alba) from the Alero Deodoro Roca site (ADR), Ongamira, Córdoba, Argentina. We compared the results with those from archaeological microvertebrates from excavations at ADR, dating to the Late Holocene (ca. 1900–3600 years BP). Most of the archaeological assemblages show the same composition as those of the modern pellets produced by Strigiformes. However, we observed variation in the representation of taxa, reflecting environmental changes over time. Using current temperature and humidity data to compare the assemblages, we observed that some results could be related to Holocenic climatic variations, already described by other studies. Furthermore, this research suggests that Strigiformes may occupy the rockshelters in Autumn-Winter, at which time the site (ADR) would not have been occupied so intensely by human populations.

The faunal assemblage from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1130 BCE) Ara burial cave, Lower Galilee, Israel, consists of large and small animal remains. The small faunal remains were mainly retrieved through fine screening the fill of the ceramic vessels. The large fauna is ...

Abstract Taphonomy and diversity of the skeletal remains of microvertebrates (mammals, fish, birds and snakes) from the latest Holocene of Cueva El Abra, Eastern Tandilia range (Buenos Aires, Argentina) were analyzed. Taphonomic attributes indicate that the accumulation of the sample is due to strigiform nocturnal birds of prey activity (cricetids rodents, didelphids, Ctenomys talarum and some birds), the occasional death on site (snakes) and human activity (cavid rodents, fish and some birds). Mammal content and chronology of this deposit are consistent with the warm and wet period Medieval Climate Anomaly (ca. 800 to 1300 AD). Depositional agents, preservation of the skeleton and the diversity of the taxa analyzed are similar to the microvertebrates assembly of Late Holocene of Cueva Tixi.

Resumen Se analizó la tafonomía y la diversidad de los restos óseos de microvertebrados (mamíferos, peces, aves y ofidios) del Holoceno tardío final del sitio Cueva El Abra, Tandilia oriental (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Los atributos tafonómicos indican que la acumulación de la muestra se debe a la actividad de aves rapaces nocturnas Strigiformes (roedores cricétidos, didélfidos, Ctenomys talarum y algunas aves), a la muerte ocasional en el sitio (ofidios) y a la actividad humana (roedores cávidos, peces y algunas aves). El contenido de micromamíferos y la cronología del depósito son consistentes con el período cálido y húmedo de la Anomalía Climática Medieval (ca. 800 a 1300 AD). Los agentes de depositación, la preservación del esqueleto y la diversidad taxonómica son similares a las del conjunto de microvertebrados del Holoceno tardío final procedente de Cueva Tixi.

Abstract. MICROVERTEBRATE TAPHONOMY OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE CUEVA TIXI (LATE PLEISTOCENE–LATE HOLOCENE) EASTERN TANDILIA (BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA). The taphonomic attributes of a sample of microvertebrates composed by 67805 remains, from the archaeological site Cueva Tixi (Eastern Tandilia, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina), were analyzed. Mammals, birds, frogs, snakes and fish were recorded with natural or anthropogenic modifications in a sequence of 11000 years (Late Pleistocene–late Holocene). The largest proportion of the sample including rodents, didelphid marsupials, birds, frogs and some fish has traces of gastric digestion and skeletal proportions that suggests that it was deposited by nocturnal prey birds. These accumulations of bones have very homogeneous alterations throughout the stratigraphic sequence. The accumulation of snakes would have occurred by circumstantial death on the cave. The skeletal remains of cavid rodents, from the latest Holocene, have cut marks of artifacts and a skeletal preservation which demonstrate its anthropogenic manipulation. The most frequent alterations were post-depositional breakage. Roots marks and mineral deposits presented increasing or decreasing trends in its frequencies in the sequence.
KEY WORDS. Bone modifications. Owl pellets. Skeletal preservation.

The faunal assemblage from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1130 BCE) Ara burial cave, Lower Galilee, Israel, consists of large and small animal remains. The small faunal remains were mainly retrieved through fine screening the fill of the ceramic vessels. The large fauna is ...

Micromammalian bone assemblages from modern pellets of the strigiform Bubo virginianus magellanicus, from the upper Atuel River (southern Mendoza, Argentina), were taphonomically analysed. The results allow us to place B. v. magellanicus in the category of intermediate modification (Category 2). This sample has also been compared with results from other members of this genus, in order to classify B. v. magellanicus as a taphonomic agent. The participation of the Bubo species in archaeological accumulations has been documented , but in Argentina, the role of B. v. magellanicus has been reported up to the present. It is partly because of the sequence of one archaeological site in the south of Mendoza Province called Laguna El Sosneado-3 (LS-3). However, considering the absence of a current taphonomic model of this owl, this participation was mentioned as a hypothesis. In the current investigation, archaeological and modern samples have been compared. The results indicate that the skeletal element assemblages recovered from LS-3 were accumulated by strigiform birds. Taphonomical evidence of light modifications on units I and IV indicates that Tyto alba (Category 1) was probably the main species involved in these units, whereas the taphonomical evidence on skeletal element assemblages recovered from units II and III suggests the action of a strigiform with a major category of modification such as B. v. magellanicus.

The cave of Askondo (Manaria, Bizkaia, Spain) is an archaeological site on the western flank of Asko
Mount. Archaeological excavations in 2011 have provided a prehistoric and historic sequence from the
Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. Approximately 3000 microvertebrate elements (including
mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) were recovered, of which 387 were identified to the genus and/or
species levels. The small mammal assemblage comprises at least 17 taxa: nine species of rodents (Glis
glis, Apodemus sylvaticus-flavicollis, Arvicola amphibius, Microtus agrestis, Microtus arvalis, Microtus (Ter-
ricola) sp., Microtus oeconomus, Chionomys nivalis, and Clethrionomys glareolus), two insectivores (Sorex
araneus-coronatus and Talpa sp.), three amphibians (Bufo calamita, Bufo bufo, and Rana temporaria-
iberica), and three reptiles (Lacertidae indet., Anguis fragilis, and Colubridae indet.). This assemblage has
enabled us to roughly reconstruct the environmental conditions that prevailed in the cave's surrounding
area. It evolved from a landscape with considerable woodlands to an arid one, characteristic of cold
conditions, at the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic (ca. 35,300 cal BP). After a short episode of
alternating woodland expansion and contraction, the woodlands expanded again at the end of the So-
lutrean (ca. 21,000 cal BP). Finally, at the top of the sequence, the climate began a warming trend that has
led to its current landscape.