Who's to blame? The Mesolithic non ‐anthropic leporids from Cueva de los Postes (Badajoz, Spain)

AbstractThe Mesolithic faunal assemblage from Cueva de Los Postes (Badajoz, Spain) is presented and discussed. The faunal remains from different stratigraphic units spatially associated with the Mesolithic funerary use of the cave or preceded them were analyzed. The zooarchaeological record is dominated by leporids, generally rabbit but also hare, scarce mustelids, and undetermined birds. Results indicate that these animals are not associated with the human use of the cave. The relevance of carnivore damage points to an exogenous origin for leporid accumulation. It is inferred that this mixed deposit of scats and non-ingested remains results from foxes' activity.

Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology - October 31, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Nelson J. Almeida, Hip ólito Collado Giraldo, Celia García Domínguez, Cristiana Ferreira, Luiz Oosterbeek, Palmira Saladié Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research