Exploitation strategy of animal resources by ancient humans at the Late Pleistocene site of Banjingzi, Nihewan basin

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2021.0085

Abstract

Abstract:

This paper provides a detailed taphonomic analysis of animal remains from the Banjingzi site dating about 90 kaBP, in the Nihewan Basin, North China. The quantification of bone surface modifications, skeletal profiles, and breakage patterns of long bones are presented, indicating strategies of prey acquisition, transportation, and consumption by humans during Marine Isotope Stage 5 in the northern China. The results show that 1) humans were the predominant accumulator of bones in Layer 5 as indicated by the frequency of percussion marks, cut marks and carnivore toothmarks; 2) horses were the dominant prey, with most brought back to the site completely; 3) limb bones (that is, portions with the most flesh and marrow) had the highest frequencies of cutmarks, percussion marks and fragmentation index. Combined with zooarchaeological results from the Lingjing site in Henan Province, we conclude that there were probably regular hunters of large games in steppe environment of North China around MIS5.

Key words: North China, Banjingzi, taphonomy, fauna, hunting

CLC Number:

Q915.86

WANG Xiaomin, WANG Fagang, CHEN Fuyou, LI Feng, GAO Xing. Exploitation strategy of animal resources by ancient humans at the Late Pleistocene site of Banjingzi, Nihewan basin[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2022, 41(06): 1005-1016.

Figures/Tables 9

References 31

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动物种类Specimens	头骨MNI (bone)	牙齿MNI (tooth)	两者数量比 MNI(bone)/MNI (tooth)
大型鹿科Large Cervid	1	3	0.33
马 Horse	12	33	0.36
犀牛Rhinoceros	1	1	1

动物种类Specimens	头骨MNI (bone)	牙齿MNI (tooth)	两者数量比 MNI(bone)/MNI (tooth)
大型鹿科Large Cervid	1	3	0.33
马 Horse	12	33	0.36
犀牛Rhinoceros	1	1	1

	马Horse				牛Bison
	MNE	MAU	%MAU	BMD	MNE	MAU	%MAU	BMD
头骨Skull	1	1	8.33		0	0	0
下颌Mandible	13	6.5	54.17	0.79	0	0	0	0.53
脊椎Vertebra	16.83	0.33	2.75	0.39	0	0	0	0.378
肋骨Rib	18	0.5	4.17	0.715	5.2	0.2	10	0.57
肩胛骨Scapula	5	2.5	20.83	0.835	3	1.5	75	0.5
盆骨Innominate	1	1	8.33	0.65	0	0	0	0.53
肱骨Humerus	20.6	10.3	85.83	0.295	0	0	0	0.31
桡骨Radius	6	3	25	0.395	0.8	0.4	20	0.415
尺骨Ulna	13.4	6.7	55.83	0.675	0	0	0	0.69
掌骨Metacarpal	6	3	25	0.575	4	2	100	0.56
腕骨Carpal	32	2	16.67		0	0	0
股骨Femur	22	11	91.67	0.3	0	0	0	0.3
髌骨Patella	2	1	8.33		0.6	0.3	15
胫骨Tibia	24	12	100	0.375	0	0	0	0.41
跖骨Metacarpal	6	3	25	0.595	0	0	0	0.5
跗骨Carpal	36	3	25	0.68	0	0	0	0.76
第一指趾骨Proximal phalanx	2	1	8.33	0.845	0	0	0	0.46
第二指趾骨Mesial phalanx	2	1	8.33	0.59	0	0	0	0.46
第三指趾骨Distal phalanx	2	1	8.33	0.57	0	0	0	0.32

	马Horse				牛Bison
	MNE	MAU	%MAU	BMD	MNE	MAU	%MAU	BMD
头骨Skull	1	1	8.33		0	0	0
下颌Mandible	13	6.5	54.17	0.79	0	0	0	0.53
脊椎Vertebra	16.83	0.33	2.75	0.39	0	0	0	0.378
肋骨Rib	18	0.5	4.17	0.715	5.2	0.2	10	0.57
肩胛骨Scapula	5	2.5	20.83	0.835	3	1.5	75	0.5
盆骨Innominate	1	1	8.33	0.65	0	0	0	0.53
肱骨Humerus	20.6	10.3	85.83	0.295	0	0	0	0.31
桡骨Radius	6	3	25	0.395	0.8	0.4	20	0.415
尺骨Ulna	13.4	6.7	55.83	0.675	0	0	0	0.69
掌骨Metacarpal	6	3	25	0.575	4	2	100	0.56
腕骨Carpal	32	2	16.67		0	0	0
股骨Femur	22	11	91.67	0.3	0	0	0	0.3
髌骨Patella	2	1	8.33		0.6	0.3	15
胫骨Tibia	24	12	100	0.375	0	0	0	0.41
跖骨Metacarpal	6	3	25	0.595	0	0	0	0.5
跗骨Carpal	36	3	25	0.68	0	0	0	0.76
第一指趾骨Proximal phalanx	2	1	8.33	0.845	0	0	0	0.46
第二指趾骨Mesial phalanx	2	1	8.33	0.59	0	0	0	0.46
第三指趾骨Distal phalanx	2	1	8.33	0.57	0	0	0	0.32

裂口新鲜指数值FFI value 观测项目item	0	1	2
裂口轮廓fracture outline	仅为螺旋状	除螺旋状还有其他	无螺旋状
裂口角度fracture angle	不到10%为90度	10%~50%为90度	大于50%为90度
裂口质地fracture edge texture	平滑	略粗糙	大部粗糙