乌兰木伦遗址非完整骨骼成因的实验考古学

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2024.0032

摘要/Abstract

摘要：

动物骨骼是旧石器时代遗址中的常见遗物和重要研究对象，但目前对破碎的动物骨骼特别是大量难以开展种属鉴定等研究的碎骨仍关注不足。乌兰木伦遗址是位于内蒙古鄂尔多斯地区的旧石器时代中期遗址，在2010-2014年的发掘中出土了近6万件非完整动物骨骼化石，其中大部分都是难以鉴定种属的碎骨，对其形成原因的探讨十分必要。本文在对遗址非完整动物骨骼观察统计的基础上，开展打制和踩踏实验，探讨不同因素对动物骨骼破碎的影响。研究结果表明，乌兰木伦遗址非完整骨骼的形成与古人类的行为活动密切相关，是敲骨吸髓、骨器制作和使用燃料等行为共同作用的结果。

关键词: 乌兰木伦遗址, 非完整骨骼, 成因, 实验考古

Abstract:

Animal skeletons serve as valuable artifacts and crucial research targets in Paleolithic sites. Nevertheless, fragmented animal bones, especially those with species difficult to identify, have yet to receive adequate attention. The Wulanmulun site, a Middle Paleolithic site situated on the banks of the Wulanmulun River in Kangbashi New District, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, dates back to 65 kaBP ~ 50 kaBP. Since its discovery and excavation in 2010, a substantial number of stone artifacts and animal fossils have been unearthed. Currently, in-depth investigations have been carried out regarding lithic artifacts, zooarchaeology, and taphonomy at this site. Hence, we will concentrate on the abundant previously unstudied incomplete skeletons and explore their formation processes to uncover their associations with human behavior and natural burial.

This paper centers on the 57,858 incomplete animal bone fossils excavated from the Wulanmulun site between 2010 and 2014, with the aim of probing into the formative factors of incomplete skeletal remains at the site. By means of quantitative analysis, experimental archaeology, and comparative analysis, we scrutinize the quantity and morphology of incomplete skeletal remains in an endeavor to elucidate the cultural traits and behavioral patterns of ancient humans. The findings suggest that: Firstly, the copious small-sized burned bones were presumably utilized as fuel instead of being the byproducts of roasting meat. Secondly, bone flakes, bone tools, and bone artifacts signify the activities of ancient humans in percussing and retouching bones, which differ from mere smashing for procuring food. Thirdly, through comparative analysis, it is deduced that marrow extraction and bone tool manufacturing coexisted at the Wulanmulun site, and the scarcity of 5 - 10 cm sized incomplete bones is correlated with the bone tool production activities of ancient humans. Fourthly, trampling experiments have verified that the fragmentation of bones caused by human and animal trampling is negligible and does not give rise to a large quantity of incomplete bones.

Consequently, this study implies that the formation of a large number of incomplete bones at the Wulanmulun site is intimately tied to ancient human activities such as marrow extraction, bone tool manufacturing, and bone burning. The Wulanmulun site comprehensively mirrors the cognitive level and utilization of animal bone resources by ancient humans, who not only harnessed meat resources but also exploited bone resources for marrow consumption, bone tool production, and fuel, exhibiting an efficient resource utilization strategy.

Key words: Wulanmulun site, Incomplete bones, Formation causes, Experimental archaeology

中图分类号:

Q983.3

唐依梦, 刘扬, 侯亚梅. 乌兰木伦遗址非完整骨骼成因的实验考古学[J]. 人类学学报, 2025, 44(01): 42-54.

TANG Yimeng, LIU Yang, HOU Yamei. An experimental archaeological study of the formation causes of incomplete bones from the Wulanmulun site[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2025, 44(01): 42-54.

图/表 9

表1 乌兰木伦遗址非完整动物骨骼长度分类统计

Tab.1 The number of incomplete bones of Wulanmulun site by size groups

长度Length	L<2cm	2≤L<3cm	3≤L<4cm	4≤L<5cm	5≤L<6cm	6≤L<8cm	8≤L<10cm	L≥10cm
数量Number(n)	52785	1987	1001	657	459	463	232	274
比例Percentage	91.2%	3.4%	1.7%	1.1%	0.8%	0.8%	0.5%	0.5%

图1 乌兰木伦遗址的骨制品 1, 3.骨片bone flake；2.实验中的骨片bone flake in the experiment；4, 5.烧骨burned bone；6.端刃器end scraper；7, 8.有打击痕迹的条状肋骨knapped rib artifact；9.骨制品 bone artifact；10.锯齿刃器denticulate；11, 12.刮削器scraper

Fig.1 Bone artifacts at Wulanmulun site

图2 打制实验过程及实验材料展示 B1-B4.敲骨吸髓marrow extraction；B5-B8.骨片获取knapping for bone flakes

Fig.2 Knapping experimental process and experimental materials

表2 非完整骨骼数量和质量占比统计

Tab.2 Proportion of number and mass of incomplete bones

组别group↓ 长度length→		L<2 cm	2≤L<5 cm	5≤L<10 cm	L≥10 cm
敲骨吸髓Marrow extraction （A组）	数量Number, n	348	35	11	11
	百分比Percentage	85.9%	8.7%	2.7%	2.7%
	总质量Total mass, m(g)	29.4	100.7	937.3	609.8
	百分比Percentage	1.8%	6%	55.9%	36.3%
骨片获取Knapping for bone flakes （B组）	数量Number, n	2711	168	55	9
	百分比Percentage	92.1%	5.7%	1.9%	0.3%
	总质量Total mass, m(g)	95.9	465.9	1398.3	753.5
	百分比Percentage	3.5%	17.2%	51.5%	27.8%
考古标本Archaeological specimens	数量Number, n	52785	3645	1154	274
	百分比Percentage	91.2%	6.3%	2%	0.5%
	总质量Total mass, m(g)	3874	6385	9817	15934
	百分比Percentage	10.8%	17.7%	27.3%	44.2%

图3 股骨和胫骨非完整骨骼数量占比统计

Fig.3 Proportion of number of incomplete bones in the femur and tibia

图4 中国主要遗址中骨器长度的分布注：未统计残断骨器Exclude broken bone tools

Fig.4 Size distribution of bone tools in domestic sites

图5 带有砍砸疤的标本

Fig.5 Excavated and experimental specimens with percussion notch 1. 11KW(2)aE14:1582; 2. 22B6:1

图6 遗址和实验中的骨骼局部 1. 14KW1(8):143; 2. OKW(7)G20-1; 3. OKW(5)G68-1; 4. 22B1:7; 5. 22B8:43; 6. 22B5:28; 7. 22B6:37 （1-3. 比例尺为10cm；4-7. 比例尺为5cm）

Fig.6 Bone parts from Wulanmulun site and experiments

图7 破碎的踩踏实验标本

Fig.7 Broken specimens in the trampling experiment

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