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Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2019

Focus on the anthropic percussion stigmata to identify original Neandertal strategies of marrow extraction

Résumé

The systematic long bone breakage to extract yellow marrow is a practice commonly observed in numerous Neandertal sites. Marrow was, indeed, an important nutritional resource to many human groups, particularly during glacial and periglacial periods. Current studies highlight butchering traditions in Neandertal groups (Bolomor, level IV, Eastern Spain). Using the study of the percussion mark locations on ungulate long bones, it is possible to observe systematic and counterintuitive patterns showing an intergenerational group sharing the same butchering know how. Thereby, using this innovative method, we may test the presence of various carcass-processing strategies by Neandertals in the Mousterian levels of Riparo Tagliente (Northern Italy). We recorded the location of the percussion marks on the ungulate remains in order to better understanding the long bone breakage process. We analysed the distribution of percussion notches, pits and crushing along long bone shafts for each level of our sample. Then, we compared the results of this distribution for the site of Riparo Tagliente within the different levels and with other Middle Paleolithic sites from Southeastern of France (Abri du Maras and Saint Marcel cave). Using this comparison, we tested for the presence of butchering traditions within the stratigraphic sequence, then at a large geographical scale. The results of this work led to a discussion of the variability between different levels on a same site or between different archaeological sites. Finally, including these data in a global archaeological research allows for the better understanding the Neandertal cognition and their cultural behaviours.
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Dates et versions

hal-03937557 , version 1 (13-01-2023)

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  • HAL Id : hal-03937557 , version 1

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Delphine Vettese, Ursula Thun Hohenstein, Arzarello M., Borel A., Marie-Hélène Moncel, et al.. Focus on the anthropic percussion stigmata to identify original Neandertal strategies of marrow extraction. YNHM, Mar 2019, Paris, France. ⟨hal-03937557⟩
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