This is a very interesting observation, but I have never seen it on any
of my material from SE Europe, Near East or southern Africa. In the last
country in particular, I excavated bone samples from a site riddled with
termite and other forms of bioturbation. The taphonomy of the site is
described in the following publication:
Fowler, Kent D., Haskel J. Greenfield and Len O. van Schalkwyk 2004c The
effects of burrowing activity on archaeological sites: Ndondondwane,
South Africa. Geoarchaeology 19 (5): 441-470.
While bones were found in the termitaria on the site, there was no
evidence that the termites were damaging the bones from that assemblage
either. I believe that such an assertion should be subjected to
experimental observations before they become widely accepted. Hope this
is useful.
Best
Haskel
Haskel J. Greenfield, Professor
University of Manitoba
Department of Anthropology
Fletcher Argue 435
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V5, Canada
Home Tel.: 204-489-4962
Office Tel.: 204-474-6332
Office Fax: 204-474-7600
Email: [log in to unmask]
Webpage: http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~greenf/
GOD PUT ME ON EARTH TO ACCOMPLISH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THINGS. RIGHT NOW
I'M SO FAR BEHIND I WILL NEVER DIE!
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard Wright
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 3:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ZOOARCH] termites eating bones
Long ago Derry claimed that much of the damage done to bones from Egypt
and Nubia was caused by termites and not by beetles - Nature, 86:245-246
(1911).
Derry writes: "A skull is found covered with mud firmly stuck on, and
with traces of the white ants' tunnels running through. If the mud is
removed, large areas of the cranial walls may be found to have
disappeared altogether. In less exaggerated cases, holes will be seen
with white, gnawed edges, or perhaps only the surface of the bone has
been attacked. The cranial sutures are a favourite site for the
commencement of the termites' operations."
Derry is writing about human skulls, but I don't imagine termites
restrict themselves to one species.
Can anybody point me to illustrations of such damage from North Africa
or southern Europe - whether on human or animal bone?
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