Porcupine gnaw marks on a Late Pliocene bone from the Upper Siwaliks exposed near Village Khetpurali (Haryana, India)

Abstract

Bone accumulation by porcupines at archaeological sites is well known. however, in paleontological sites such a taphonomical occurrence is rather rare. We here report porcupine (hystrix sp.) gnaw marks on an unidentified bone fragment, dated to ~2.6 Ma from the Upper Siwalik deposits exposed near Khetpurali (haryana), India. the present gnaw marks are very distinct and are characterized by visible edges and grooves making clear broad and shallow furrows. The present find adds to our knowledge of Siwalik vertebrate taphonomy where most of the accumulations reported earlier were either fluvial or made by carnivores.

Himalayan Cenozoic biotas and climate: an overview of recent advances

“…Uppermost layers of Tatrot Formation yielded bovid bones with "intentional cut marks" (Malasse et al, 2016) and diverse faunal remains (Moigne et al, 2016). Kaur et al (2019) reported porcupine (Hystrix) gnawing marks on a bone fragment most likely that of a mammal, dated to ~2.6 Ma from the Upper Siwalik deposits known from Khetpurali (Haryana). New dental remains of murid rodents Golunda kelleri, Mus flynni, Mus jacobsi and Abudhabia cf.…”