Some time ago, dealing with bone remains found in a Neolithic site in
northern Germany, I found that, in a small area of a ditch surrounding
the enclosure, a relatively large quantity of first phalanges and femora
of wild and domestic cattle (and 1 phalanx of a wild boar) were present,
while other skeletal elements were almost completely absent. Many of the
phalanges were intentionally broken - always with the same pattern. The
femora were broken as well, with mostly the epiphyses being present and
only a few shaft fragments. As I see it, these fragments are either a
product of a single depositional event , in which case one must assume
that at least 6 individuals of cattle were slaughtered in a very short
time (here an example of a situation were I did use MNIs; sorry about
mentioning this subject), or the products of a certain activity
(artifact making?) being repeatedly and consistently dumped at the same
spot.
Has any one heard from a similar association between these two skeletal
elements? or does someone know from a simlar case, involving two
skeletal elements with very different nutritional value?
cheers, Jaco
--
Jaco Weinstock
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde
Rosenstein 1, D-70191 Stuttgart
Germany
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