Autochthonous anisotropy of archaeological materials by the action of water: experimental and archaeological reassessment of the orientation patterns at the Olduvai sites

Domı́nguez-Rodrigo, Manuel; Uribelarrea, David; Santonja, Manuel; Bunn, Henry T.; García-Pérez, Alfonso; Pérez‐González, Alfredo; Panera, Joaquín; Rubio‐Jara, Susana; Mabulla, Audax; Baquedano, Enrique; Yravedra, José; Martín, Fernando Diéz

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.07.025

Cited by 57 publications

(61 citation statements)

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“…Experimental studies have shown that autochthonous groups affected by hydraulic processes can adopt anisotropic fabrics (Domínguez-Rodrigo et al 2014b;Cobo-Sánchez et al 2014). In addition to water flows, other processes such as gravity, wind, or trampling can produce orientation patterns (e.g., Frostick and Reid 1983;Petraglia 1987;Olsen and Shipman 1988;Bertran et al 1997;Lenoble et al 2008;Eren et al 2010;Krajcarz and Krajcarz 2013).…”

Section: Orientation Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Did Homo erectus kill a Pelorovis herd at BK (Olduvai Gorge)? A taphonomic study of BK5

Organista

Domı́nguez-Rodrigo

Egeland

et al. 2015

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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New research and excavations at Bell Korongo (BK, Olduvai Gorge, Upper Bed II) have uncovered a dense concentration of megafauna that contributes to our understanding of Homo erectus subsistence strategies around 1.34 Ma. Recent work has yielded clear taphonomic evidence for the exploitation of large-sized animals. The frequency and distribution of cut marks, for example, indicates that hominins enjoyed early access to substantial amounts of meat. This degree of carcass processing, particularly megafauna, suggests that the human group(s) exploiting them were large and had significant nutritional needs. Here, we build upon this work by presenting the first comprehensive taphonomic analysis of the faunal material excavated by the Leakeys at BK between 1952 and 1957 corresponding to 24 Pelorovis oldowayensis. Leakey's assemblage was biased due to selective collection of the most readily identifiable specimens, among which long bone shafts were not included. The recent assemblage reflects the relevance of using long bone shafts to overcome the equifinality of the alternative scenarios proposed to explain the accumulation of Pelorovis. The analysis of The Olduvai Paleoanthropology and Paleoecology Project's (TOPPP) recent assemblage sheds light on the reconstruction of hominin strategies of carcass acquisition at BK.

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Section: Orientation Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Did Homo erectus kill a Pelorovis herd at BK (Olduvai Gorge)? A taphonomic study of BK5

Organista

Domı́nguez-Rodrigo

Egeland

et al. 2015

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…Toots ; Voorhies ; Nash & Petraglia ; Petraglia & Nash ; Schick ; Fiorillo ; Petraglia & Potts ; Benito‐Calvo & de la Torre ; Domínguez‐Rodrigo et al . , , d; de la Torre & Benito‐Calvo ; Cobo‐Sánchez et al . ; Aramendi et al .…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

“…This dimensional threshold was chosen because small bone fragments show more random orientations than longer specimens (Domínguez‐Rodrigo et al . ). Orientation (plunge and bearing) of clearly elongated specimens (i.e.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In this study we applied circular statistics to a subset of 249 non‐articulated, elongated bone specimens, having length ≥20 mm (Domínguez‐Rodrigo et al . ). No distinction of skeletal elements was made, due to the high percentage (91%, n = 227) of fragmented remains in the analysed sample – mostly appendicular ( n = 122), undetermined ( n = 93), axial and cranial ( n = 12) fragments – and due to the low percentage (9%, n = 22) of complete bones – 17 limb bones, four scapulae and a rib.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Nevertheless, anisotropy has been equally documented in autochthonous assemblages subjected to low‐energy water‐flows (Domínguez‐Rodrigo et al . , ; Cobo‐Sánchez et al . ); hence, it can be a necessary but not sufficient condition to differentiate allochthony from autochthony (Lenoble & Bertran ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Recursive anisotropy: a spatial taphonomic study of the Early Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage of Tsiotra Vryssi, Mygdonia Basin, Greece

Giusti

Konidaris

Tourloukis

et al. 2019

Boreas

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By applying advanced spatial statistical methods, spatial taphonomy complements the traditional taphonomic approach and enhances our understanding of biostratinomic and diagenetic processes. In this study, we elaborate on a specific aspect – spatial anisotropy – of taphonomic processes. We aim to unravel the taphonomic history of the Early Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage of Tsiotra Vryssi (Mygdonia Basin, Greece). Circular statistics are used for the fabric analysis of elongated elements; geostatistics (directional variograms), wavelet and point pattern analyses are applied for detecting anisotropy at the assemblage level. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of sedimentary magnetic minerals is also investigated. The results, integrated with preliminary remarks about the differential preservation of skeletal elements, sedimentological and micromorphological observations, suggest multiple dispersion events and recurrent spatial re‐arrangement of a lag, (peri)autochthonous assemblage, consistent with the cyclical lateral switching of a braided fluvial system. Furthermore, this study offers a contribution to the building of a spatial taphonomic referential framework for the interpretation of other fossil vertebrate assemblages, including archaeo‐palaeontological ones.

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2018

Reconstructing Archaeological Sites

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Autochthonous anisotropy of archaeological materials by the action of water: experimental and archaeological reassessment of the orientation patterns at the Olduvai sites

Cited by 57 publications

References 25 publications

Did Homo erectus kill a Pelorovis herd at BK (Olduvai Gorge)? A taphonomic study of BK5

Did Homo erectus kill a Pelorovis herd at BK (Olduvai Gorge)? A taphonomic study of BK5

Recursive anisotropy: a spatial taphonomic study of the Early Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage of Tsiotra Vryssi, Mygdonia Basin, Greece

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