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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Microtaphonomy in archaeological sites: The use of soil micromorphology to better understand bone taphonomy in archaeological contexts

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Author(s):
Estevez, Jordi [1] ; Villagran, Ximena S. [2] ; Balbo, Andrea L. [3] ; Hardy, Karen [4]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Fac Lletres, Dept Prehist, Bellaterra 08193 - Spain
[2] Univ Sao Paulo IGC USP, Inst Geosci, BR-05508080 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Spanish Natl Res Council IMF CSIC, Inst Mila & Fontanals, Dept Archaeol & Anthropol, Barcelona 08001 - Spain
[4] ICREA, Dept Prehist, Bellaterra 08193 - Spain
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL; v. 330, p. 3-9, APR 30 2014.
Web of Science Citations: 14
Abstract

In archaeozoological studies taphonomic analyses have focused largely on identification of chemical and mechanical changes of the bones recovered during excavation. The quantification of bone remains is usually made using the number of remains (NR). One of the major drawbacks in the use of the NR method is that it does not take into account the variability in size of faunal remains from large bones to microscopic fragments. In archaeological sites where no macroscopic bone is preserved due to adverse physico-chemical conditions (e.g. high pH) micromorphology can be used to detect the presence of bones and other animal remains. In addition microscopic observations provide information on the pre and post-depositional alteration of faunal remains and allow for a semi-quantitative assessment of microscopic bone fragments. In this sense micromorphology can be used in support of archaeotaphonomic studies which have traditionally overlooked microscopic animal remains. This paper presents some applications of the use of micromorphology to understand bone taphonomy at different archaeological open-air sites including: (1) a shell midden from Tierra del Fuego (2) a Brazilian shell mound (sambaqui) (3) an Iberian Middle Palaeolithic site and (4) a Mesolithic campsite in northern Scotland. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved. (AU)