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Identifying the bone-breaker at the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid) using machine learning algorithms

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Abstract

In recent years, reports on bone breakage at archaeological sites have become more common in the taphonomic literature. The present work tests a recently published method, based on the use of machine learning algorithms for analysing the processes involved in bone breakage, to identify the agent that broke the bones of medium-sized animals at the Mousterian Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid). This is the first time this method has been used in an archaeological setting. The results show that these bones were mostly broken by anthropic action, while some were slightly ravaged by carnivores, probably hyaenas. These findings agree very well with published interpretations of the site, and show the method used to be useful in taphonomic studies of archaeological materials with poorly preserved cortical surfaces.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Pinilla del Valle research team for archaeopalaeontological discussions, especially A. Abrunhosa, A. Álvarez, D. Álvarez-Lao, M.A. Galindo-Pellicena, N. García-García and M.C. Ortega. The authors are very grateful to those who assisted during the experimental phase, particularly Alicia Caboblanco for her assistance, and Cárnicas DIBE S.L., which provided all the carcasses used in the preparation of the set 1 material. Special thanks are owed to M. Domínguez-Rodrigo who assisted with the statistical analysis. The authors also thank Adrian Burton for language and editing assistance.

Funding

AM is funded by a grant from the Junta de Castilla y León financed in turn by the European Social Funds through the Consejería de Educación (BDNS 376062). This research was conducted as part of competitive projects PGC 2018-094125-B-100 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE), PGC 2018-093925-B-C32 (MICINN-FEDER), AGAUR (2017SGR1040), URV (2014, 2015 and 2016 PFR-URV-B2-17) and funded by the I+D activities program for research groups run by the Education Secretariat of the Madrid Regional Government. The study was also partly funded by the Museo Arqueológico Regional de la Comunidad de Madrid (MAR), Grupo Mahou and Canal de Isabel II-Gestión. This work is a contribution to the Valle de los Neandertales project (H2019/HUM-5840) funded by the Comunidad de Madrid and the Fondo Social Europeo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca, 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain

    Abel Moclán

  2. Escuela Interuniversitaria de Posgrado en Evolución Humana, Universidad de Burgos, Don Juan de Austria 1, 09001, Burgos, Spain

    Abel Moclán

  3. Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA), University of Alcalá de Henares, Covarrubias 36, 28010, Madrid, Spain

    Abel Moclán, Alfredo Pérez-González & Enrique Baquedano

  4. Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES), c/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, Campus Secelades URV (Edifici W3) E3, 43700, Tarragona, Spain

    Rosa Huguet

  5. Àrea de Prehistòria, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002, Tarragona, Spain

    Rosa Huguet

  6. Unit associated to CSIC. Departamento de Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Rosa Huguet

  7. Museo Arqueológico Regional de la Comunidad de Madrid, Plaza de las Bernardas s/n, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Belén Márquez, César Laplana & Enrique Baquedano

  8. Departamento de Paleontología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Juan Luis Arsuaga

  9. Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII de Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, c/Monforte de Lemos 5, Madrid, Spain

    Juan Luis Arsuaga

  10. Asociación Nacional El Hombre y el Medio, 28982, Madrid, Spain

    Alfredo Pérez-González

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  1. Abel Moclán
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Moclán, A., Huguet, R., Márquez, B. et al. Identifying the bone-breaker at the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid) using machine learning algorithms. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 12, 46 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01017-1

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