Here we present the first fossil record of a bone assemblage that could have been accumulated by New World vultures (Cathartidae). The bone remains were found in an archaeological rockshelter called Gruta do Pres epio (GPR), located in the tropical rainforest environment of Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, where groups of hunters and gatherers lived from the Early to Middle Holocene (9.3-4.6 cal. ka BP) until the Late Holocene (1.3 cal. ka BP). The results of taphonomic analysis of the archaeological sample are compared with actualistic taphonomic modifications produced by New World vultures. The findings of autopodials (mainly phalanges) of medium and large mammals, with a high degree of digestive corrosion but without tooth marks, could be related to the pellet deposit pattern of New World vultures. Seven mammal taxa associated with a forest environment were identified, four of which were obtained from pellets deposited by Cathartidae; these included some native taxa (Cervidae, Dasypodidae, Felidae and Tayassuidae) that are frequently consumed today by these scavenger birds. The bone and tooth remains contained in the pellets regurgitated by Cathartidae were found together with faunal remains discarded by humans that lived in GPR from the Early to the Late Holocene. This palimpsest highlights the relevance of archaeological and actualistic taphonomic studies.
En esta contribución presentamos los resultados del estudio tecno-morfológico-funcional y arqueométrico de pigmentos minerales recuperados en cuatro sitios residenciales y en un escondrijo de la llanura Interserrana, ocupados durante el Holoceno medio y tardío. En los sitios residenciales identificamos pigmentos compuestos por diversidad de óxidos de hierro y argilominerales, entre ellos pirofilita, procedentes de las sierras de Barker, que ingresaron a los sitios como parte del equipamiento personal y se utilizaron en bruto, ya sea en polvo o de forma directa, posiblemente para el tratamiento o decoración de cueros. Los pigmentos que integran el escondrijo, compuestos por diversos óxidos e hidróxido de hierro, así como por caolinita e illita, también podrían provenir de Barker, aunque no podemos descartar su obtención en otros sectores de Tandilia. Su adquisición, traslado y almacenaje se realizó con el propósito de equipar con rocas colorantes un borde de laguna reiteradamente ocupado.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.