Toward Distinguishing Human and Raptor Patterning on Leporid Bones

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 1991 papers

Abstract

Prehistoric Native Americans hunted leporids (cottontails and hares) for food, clothing, and to obtain raw material for the manufacture of bone tools such as awls. Leporids are also favorite prey of various carnivores and raptors, hence many archaeological sites may contain leporid bones that were deposited by both human and nonhuman activities. This paper provides data to distinguish specific agents and processes that affected leporid bones in archaeological sites. Human behavior tends to create hare tibia diaphysis cylinders, cut-marked bones, unidentifiable burned bone fragments, and assemblages with predominantly adult leporid bone specimens. In contrast, raptor behavior creates more cottontail tibia diaphysis cylinders, bones with beak and talon punctures on only one side, shearing damage principally to innominates and femora, and high frequencies of forelimb and juvenile bones when leporid bones are deposited mainly in raptor pellets.

Related Papers

• → Molecular Shaping of the Beak(2004)252 cited
• → Current methods and techniques of beak trimming laying hens, welfare issues and alternative approaches(2020)21 cited
• → Is Beak Morphology in Darwin’s Finches Tuned to Loading Demands?(2015)69 cited
• → Minor beak trimming in chickens leads to loss of mechanoreception and magnetoreception1(2010)28 cited
• → Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare(2019)8 cited