The Aurignacian technocomplex represents one of the earliest Anatomically Modern Human populations in Europe. This cultural tradition dates from approximately 43,000 to 35,000 years ago. The...Show moreThe Aurignacian technocomplex represents one of the earliest Anatomically Modern Human populations in Europe. This cultural tradition dates from approximately 43,000 to 35,000 years ago. The technological differences observed between the earliest two phases of this tradition indicate distinctly separate cultural phases known as the Protoaurignacian and the Early Aurignacian. Zooarchaeological evidence from southwest European cave sites suggest a larger focus on reindeer for subsistence than other mammal taxa during the Early Aurignacian in comparison to Protoaurignacian sites, but it is not yet clear whether this represents a culture-wide shift from generalized hunting strategy to specialization. This thesis explores the evidence for a shift towards specialization from Proto- to Early Aurignacian by collecting faunal assemblage data from seven Proto and eight Early Aurignacian assemblages from ten different sites found across southwestern Europe, and statistically comparing the taxonomic and body-size diversity between the Protoaurignacian and Early Aurignacian phases. I found a significant average reduction in taxonomic diversity and evenness indices from Protoaurignacian to Early Aurignacian, suggesting a shift from a more “generalized” hunting strategy employed by the Protoaurignacian to a “specialized” hunting strategy by the Early Aurignacian. This appeared driven by a preference for the particular ungulate taxon, Rangifer tarandus (reindeer), and not necessarily a preference for reindeer body size. Although additional considerations warrant further investigations, the evidence gleaned from this study strongly imply a deliberate emphasis on particular animal species for sustenance and/or material resources during the Early Aurignacian phase in the southwestern region of Europe.Show less
Molluscan shell remains are among the most widespread materials to be found at pre-Columbian archaeological sites in the Caribbean. Particularly that of the Queen Conch (Aliger gigas, previously...Show moreMolluscan shell remains are among the most widespread materials to be found at pre-Columbian archaeological sites in the Caribbean. Particularly that of the Queen Conch (Aliger gigas, previously known as Strombus gigas or Lobatus gigas), which became a significant resource for Amerindians throughout the region during the Archaic and formed a central part of many coastal Caribbean economies during the Ceramic. Not only as a source of food, providing plenty of meat, but also for its shell which provided as a handy source material for tools and ornaments. The extraction of meat from the shell of Aliger gigas comes in a variety of techniques, from breaking open the shell, to perforating a part of the shell’s spire to cut the animal loose, to burning the shell, but also to simply let the animal out to dry or decompose. The prevalence of some of these techniques over others is an interesting topic in archaeomalacology that is often overshadowed by tool and ornament manufacture. Perhaps most relevant is the research done by Antczak in the Los Roques archipelago, Venezuela. The ABC-islands, and particularly Curaçao, were particularly reliant on Queen Conch, as a food source as well as a source material for tools. In this thesis, the author examines a sample of Aliger gigas individuals taken from the excavations performed by Leiden University at Spaanse Water, Curaçao, to try and understand which food extraction techniques are still visible in the shell assemblage. Shells are analysed on macro-scale, and visible traces of alteration are recorded using a make-shift typology based on prior research and stored in a database. Results show a clear inclination towards food extraction that leave no mark on the shell (i.e., drying, heating, or decomposing), followed by other techniques such as breaking and perforating. Quantitative conclusions are hard to make, as the sample set is a rather small part of the total Aliger gigas assemblage of Spaanse Water. In any case, the high level of variability in extraction techniques raises questions that might require future research to look at food extraction as a cultural process, not unlike tool and ornament manufacture.Show less
Molluscan shell remains are among the most widespread materials to be found at pre-Columbian archaeological sites in the Caribbean. Particularly that of the Queen Conch (Aliger gigas, previously...Show moreMolluscan shell remains are among the most widespread materials to be found at pre-Columbian archaeological sites in the Caribbean. Particularly that of the Queen Conch (Aliger gigas, previously known as Strombus gigas or Lobatus gigas), which became a significant resource for Amerindians throughout the region during the Archaic and formed a central part of many coastal Caribbean economies during the Ceramic. Not only as a source of food, providing plenty of meat, but also for its shell which provided as a handy source material for tools and ornaments. The extraction of meat from the shell of Aliger gigas comes in a variety of techniques, from breaking open the shell, to perforating a part of the shell’s spire to cut the animal loose, to burning the shell, but also to simply let the animal out to dry or decompose. The prevalence of some of these techniques over others is an interesting topic in archaeomalacology that is often overshadowed by tool and ornament manufacture. Perhaps most relevant is the research done by Antczak in the Los Roques archipelago, Venezuela. The ABC-islands, and particularly Curaçao, were particularly reliant on Queen Conch, as a food source as well as a source material for tools. In this thesis, the author examines a sample of Aliger gigas individuals taken from the excavations performed by Leiden University at Spaanse Water, Curaçao, to try and understand which food extraction techniques are still visible in the shell assemblage. Shells are analysed on macro-scale, and visible traces of alteration are recorded using a make-shift typology based on prior research and stored in a database. Results show a clear inclination towards food extraction that leave no mark on the shell (i.e., drying, heating, or decomposing), followed by other techniques such as breaking and perforating. Quantitative conclusions are hard to make, as the sample set is a rather small part of the total Aliger gigas assemblage of Spaanse Water. In any case, the high level of variability in extraction techniques raises questions that might require future research to look at food extraction as a cultural process, not unlike tool and ornament manufacture.Show less
Paleopathology is the study of pathological changes in ancient remains. It is not often employed in the investigation of archaeozoological remains. Palaeopathological publications of horses are...Show morePaleopathology is the study of pathological changes in ancient remains. It is not often employed in the investigation of archaeozoological remains. Palaeopathological publications of horses are even rarer and almost unknown from the Netherlands. In this research paleopathology is applied to horse remains from a Dutch medieval site, De Hoge Hof, Tiel, in order to understand which forms of pathology occur in medieval horses from the Netherlands and what information can be gained from paleopathology on horses regarding their use, role and relation to humans. Furthermore the advantages, disadvantages and difficulties of applying paleopathology to medieval horse remains are explored based on this investigation. A general overview of animal pathology is presented based on the works of Baker and Brothwell and further supplemented with an overview of results of pathological studies on archaeozoological horse remains. The materials used for this investigation are from an excavation of the site De Hoge Hof near Tiel in the riverine area of the Netherlands. This is a site that showed human presence from the Roman period up to the Modern Age, with the strongest human presence in the High and Late Middle Ages. The site boasted a large amount of horse remains in its assemblage, particularly during the Early and Late Middle Ages. Further find categories indicate that the site was an agricultural site with a presence of both smaller hand mills and larger mills, possibly animal powered. The vast majority of horse remains are associated with the Early to Late Middle Ages in which an unusual number of pathological changes were detected by the preliminary study. These pathological changes have all been described, presented and interpreted in order to have a first approach to horse pathology in the Netherlands, in general, and their relation to human activities during the Middle Ages, in particular. In order to achieve this, a typological categorization of horse pathologies is attempted and the relation between pathologies and anthropic activities are discussed.Show less
In this thesis, the zooarchaeological assemblages from the Tabacalera site are compared with each other and changes in animal husbandry strategies and diet are studied. Afterward they are also...Show moreIn this thesis, the zooarchaeological assemblages from the Tabacalera site are compared with each other and changes in animal husbandry strategies and diet are studied. Afterward they are also compared to other data from the Iberian Peninsula known for the periods in question. These assemblage date to the Late Roman Period (5th-6th centuries) and the Middle Ages (8th to 16th, but mainly 14th to 16th). The Late Roman assemblage exists of carcasses dumped after a catastrophic event and the medieval assemblage was accumulated over de course of the centuries. These differences in accumulation made it hard to compare the two assemblages. To asses the possible changes a plethora of methods was used: species ratios, element distribution, mortality profiles, osteometric analysis and the distribution of taphonomic marks. In addition to the mammal fragments these methods were used on, species distribution is also discussed for the other animal groups, such as birds. All in all, this led to the following conclusions. Firstly, due to the different taphonomy and accumulation the two assemblages can barely be compared when animal husbandry and diet is considered. Some conclusions, however are possible. Secondly, cattle were the animals that were produced at the site. The focus of production lay on a mix of meat and secondary products. A part of the cattle was used for milk, ploughing and traction, and not consumed until old age and a part was slaughtered for meat and likely traded to a high-status or urban site in the area. Pig and sheep/goats were animals consumed at the site, but not produced or traded. The only product of pig was meat and sheep/goats were kept for mixed production of both wool and meat. Other species formed a supplement to this diet. Mainly these are chicken and turkey. The presence of turkey is special due to its only recent introduction to the country. Other animal groups still need to be studied. The medieval assemblage fits with the characteristics of a rural Christian site near a high-status or urban settlement during the High Middle Ages in Northern Spain. The changes that could be determined between the Roman and medieval assemblages were the change in socio economic status from high-status Roman to rural medieval. This was also attested by historical sources. There was also a change in primary consumption animal and the breed improvement of cattle known in the area from the Roman period ceased in the Middle Ages, resulting in a decrease in cattle size. The size of the sheep (that were already small during the Roman period) stayed the same during the Middle Ages. This resulted in the conclusion that no breed improvement took place 71 and that the mixed production known for the Roman period stayed the same in the Middle Ages. In conclusion, between the Late Roman period and the (High) Middle Ages the site underwent many changes with little continuity between the periods. These changes envelope both taphonomical and husbandry changes.Show less
The Palaeolithic locality Schöningen (Germany) is known particularly well for its magnificently preserved hominin crafted spears and the remains of large mammals with traces of butchering and...Show moreThe Palaeolithic locality Schöningen (Germany) is known particularly well for its magnificently preserved hominin crafted spears and the remains of large mammals with traces of butchering and marrow exploitation. The Palaeolithic sites in the Schöningen area yielded also several other find categories such as botanical remains, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. This thesis reports on the investigation of the avian remains from Schö 13 II-4, the site where they found the wooden spears. Most (≥70%) of the bird remains are from that site. For the identification of the bird remains three different comparison collections as well as the literature have been consulted. At least five species have been identified; four different ducks and a member of the Phasianidae family. The avian assemblage seems to have natural origins; there are no distinctive anthropogenic marks on the bones and the quantity of the elements is one to be expected after a natural death. The avian fauna does not contradict previous palaeoenvironmental reconstructions i.e. the occurrence of open water, temperate climate conditions and a somewhat sheltered type of vegetation.Show less
