Abstract
Fossil bones from the Lower Pleistocene site of Venta Micena bear cut-marks in a small proportion of specimens, similar to that of bones with cut-marks at East African sites at Olduvai and East Lake Turkana. Cut-marks are distinguishable from other surface marks on bone cortex in terms of metrical characteristics, anatomical location, grouping, and microscopical characteristics, particularly those such as microstriations which may be observed with the scanning electron microscope.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anadón P., Julià R., De Deckker P., Rosso J.C. ySolulié-Märsche I. 1987.Contribución a la Paleolimnologia del Pleistoceno inferior de la cuenca de Baza (sector Orce-venta Micena). Paleont. i Evol., Mem. Esp. 1: 35–72.
Andrews P. &Cook J. 1985.Natural modifications to bones in a temperature setting. Man. 20: 675–691.
Behrensmeyer A.K., Gordon K.D. &Yanagi G.T. 1986.Trampling as a cause of bone surface damage and pseudo-cutmarks. Nature 319: 768–771.
Bunn H.T. 1982.Meat-Eating and Human Evolution: Studies on the Diet and Subsistence Patterns of Plio-Pleistocene Hominids in east Africa. Doctoral Thesis. Univ. of California, Berkeley.
Cook J. 1986.The application of scanning electron microscopy to taphonomic and archaeological problems. In: «Studies in the Upper palaeolithic of Britain and Northwest Europe». B.A.R. 296: 143–163.
Gibert J. yCaporicci R. 1986.Paleoecología de Venta Micena. Paleont. i Evol. 20: 165–168.
Gibert J. yCaporicci R. 1989a.Acción antrópica en Venta Micena. In: «Los restos humanos de Orce y Cueva Victoria». Diputación de Barcelona.
Gibert Clols J. yCaporicci Jiménez R. 1989b.Tafonomía y Paleoecología del yacimiento de Venta Micena. In: «Los restos humanos de Orce y Cueva Victoria». Diputación de Barcelona.
Gibert J., Caporicci R., Ruz M.C., Martínez B. yRoca A. 1985.Estudio de los huesos fragmentados del yacimiento de venta Micena (Orce, Granada). Paleont. i Evol. 19: 19–47.
Leakey L.S.B. 1967.Olduvai George 1951–1961: A preliminary Report on the Geology and fauna. Vol. I, Cambridge: Cambridge Universityt Press.
Shipman P. 1981.Applications of Scanning Electron Microscopy to Taphonomic Problems. Annals of the new York Academy of Sciences 276: 357–385.
Shipman P. 1983.Early hominid lifestyle: Hunting and gathering or foraging and scavenging? British Archaeological Reports: 31–49.
Shipman P. &Rose J. 1983a.Carcass-Processing Behaviors: Approaches to the Fossil Record. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 2: 57–98.
Shipman P. &Rose J. 1983b.Evidence of Butchery and Hominid Activities at Torralba and Ambrona. An Evaluation Using Microscopic Techniques. Journal of Archaeological Science 10: 465–474.
Shipman P., Rose J.J. 1984.Cutmark Mimics on Moderns an Fossil Bovid Bones. Current Anthropology Vol. 25, 1: 116–117.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gibert, J., Jimenez, C. Investigations into cut-marks on fossil bones of Lower Pleistocene age from Venta Micena (Orce, Granada province, Spain). Hum. Evol. 6, 117–127 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02435612
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02435612