Taphonomic observation of faunal remains from the Gezishan Locality 10 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0019

Abstract

Abstract:

Located in the foothills of Helan Mountain, roughly 20 km to the northwest of Qingtongxia City, locality 10(QG10) of the Gezishan site was systematically excavated in 2014-2017. Along with thousands of lithic tools of microblade technology and dozens of perforated beads and bone artifacts, a large number of faunal remains was recovered from the site. Based on preliminary observations of taphonomic features of the animal bones identifiable to a specific taxon and/or skeletal element from the site, it could be argued that humans are the main agent responsible for the accumulation and modification of the faunal remains at QG10, and they procured the main prey animals through active hunting rather than aggressive scavenging. In addition, hunter-gatherers transported complete carcasses to the site to be processed, butchering the middle/large-sized animals and breaking open their bones mainly for nutritional purposes. However, it seems clear that in addition to their nutritional value, small animals at the site were probably exploited to manufacture bone artifacts as well.

Key words: Gezishan site, Taphonomy, Zooarchaeology, Paleolithic, Adaptive strategy

CLC Number:

K871.12

ZHANG Shuangquan, PENG Fei, ZHANG Yue, GUO Jialong, WANG Huimin, HUANG Chao, DAI Jingwen, ZHANG Yuzhe, GAO Xing. Taphonomic observation of faunal remains from the Gezishan Locality 10 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2019, 38(02): 232-244.

Figures/Tables 8

References 69

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	鸟类 Aves	兔 Lepussp.	狐 Vulpessp.	普氏原羚 Procapra przewalskii	鹿类 Cervussp.	普氏野马 Equus przewalskyi	小计 Sum	牙齿碎片 Tooth fragments	总计 Total
NISP	4	103	30	74	150	279	640	89	729
MNI	2	6	1	2	2	7			20

	鸟类 Aves	兔 Lepussp.	狐 Vulpessp.	普氏原羚 Procapra przewalskii	鹿类 Cervussp.	普氏野马 Equus przewalskyi	小计 Sum	牙齿碎片 Tooth fragments	总计 Total
NISP	4	103	30	74	150	279	640	89	729
MNI	2	6	1	2	2	7			20

	上部肢骨 Upper limbs	中部肢骨 Middle limbs	下部肢骨 Lower limbs
鹿类Cervus sp.	6（66.67%）	1（11.11%）	2（22.22%）
普氏野马Equus przewalskyi	4（23.53%）	11（64.71%）	2（11.76%）

	上部肢骨 Upper limbs	中部肢骨 Middle limbs	下部肢骨 Lower limbs
鹿类Cervus sp.	6（66.67%）	1（11.11%）	2（22.22%）
普氏野马Equus przewalskyi	4（23.53%）	11（64.71%）	2（11.76%）