I find the discussion on the nature of microvertebrate accumulations
fascinating.
I wonder if the possible contribution of humans to the formation of
microvertebrate accumulations tends to be overlooked. The roles of various
modes of natural accumulation (predation, natural traps, burrowing) are so
obvious that they become at times almost axiomatic. Not discounting the
significant role of these processes, I think that a close look at
microvertebrate accumulations is required for every specific assemblage
deposited in a cultural context. The crucial issues in dealing with multiple
patterning might include fine recovery, taphonomy, well-controlled actualistic
comparisons, and perhaps the wider scope of an inductive pattern recognition
approach.
Lior Weissbrod
Graduate student
Department of Anthropology
Washington University in St.Louis
Campus box 1114
One Brookings Drive
St.Louis, MO 63130
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