Dear Jennie,
I was found those marks on felines from Xochicalco, Morelos, an
Epi_Classic site in Mexico (900-700 AC).
The cut-marks was on all the phalanx (from hind & forelimbs) and the
identification of felines includes bobcat, cougar & jaguar.
Those marks were used to made fur-coat with the claw included. The
pictographic evidence show a similar use in the contempoirary site of
Cacaxtla, Tlaxcala.
This information was presented in the 9th ICAZ Congress in Durham
(poster) and I'll hope will be writing soon on an article.
Hope it helps
Cheers
Eduardo Corona-M.
Centro INAH Morelos &
Seminario Relaciones Hombre-Fauna
(http://www.geocities.com/shofaun)
Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia
-----Original Message-----
From: Jennie Borresen Lee <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 2:50 pm
Subject: [ZOOARCH] bobcat butchery
Hi all,
I have two bobcat (Lynx rufus) second phalanges with cut marks near
their
proximal ends (cranial surface). They were recovered from an
archaeological site in northwestern Colorado, USA. I haven't identified
any other bobcat remains in the assemblage. I'm wondering if the cut
marks are the result of disarticulating the claws, perhaps for some
symbolic purpose. Has anyone encountered butchered bobcat (or other
felid) feet before and/or can you please point me in the direction of
some
good references? Feel free to reply off-list.
Thanks in advance,
Jennie
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