Thanks to all who replied to this posting.
There are a great many archaeological references to cutmarks on phalanges. I am particularly interested in papers detailing ethnographic or ethnoarchaeological studies of butchery practises, however , and would still appreciate any references you might have. In the meantime, for those who are interested in the topic here are two papers that resulted from the posting that proved particularly interesting:
- an interesting discussion of cutmarks on the phalanges and hooves of Horses, bovids and Red deer :
Parkin, R. A., P. Rowley-Conwy & e. al., 1986. Late Paleolithic exploitation of horse and red deer at Gough's Cave, Cheddar, Somerset. Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society, 17(3), 311-30.
- a good ethnoarchaeological paper with illustrations of cutmarks on Reindeer feet:
Costamagno, S. & F. David, 2009. Comparaison des Pratiques Bouchères et Culinaires de Différents Groupes Sibériens Vivant de la Renniculture. Archaeofauna, 18, 9-25.
And a quick peek at Wheat's publication on the Olsen-Chubbuck site yielded the interesting fact that bison feet & hooves were sometimes used by Plains "Indians" as hatchets for butchering carcasses.
Cheers now,
Ariane
Prof. Ariane Burke,
Dept. d'anthropologie,
Université de Montréal,
C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville
Montreal, QC
Canada, H3C 3J7
Tel. 514-343-6574
http://www.mapageweb.umontreal.ca/burkea/
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