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。

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.