Behavior of the ancient humans as reflected by the broken long bones of mammals from the Majuangou site, Nihewan Basin

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2023.0042

Abstract

Abstract:

The Early Pleistocene site of Majuangou, one of the earliest hominin sites in northeast Asia is dated to 1.76-1.26 Ma BP. Excavations revealed 17 stratigraphic layers showing evidence of hominin activities including lithic artefacts and animal fossils, offering compelling evidence of the earliest human subsistence in high latitude regions of northeast Asia. Among them, Layer 3 (MJG-3) was estimated to be 1.66 Ma BP. The present study focuses on long bone fragments of large and medium-sized mammals recovered from MJG-3 between 2001-2003, with the goal of understanding taphonomic process of faunal assemblages. Breakage analysis, including fragmentation, weathering stages, long bone breakage patterns are reported. It shows that most long bones have green fractures. The recorded fracture angles provide data about initial consumption of bone marrow. We argue that hominins had primary access to carcasses by means of marrow extraction, while carnivores scavenged the leftovers. The systematic analysis of breaking patterns of long bones are applied here, offering evidence of hominin-carnivore interaction in Early Pleistocene in northeast Asia.

Key words: Early Pleistocene, Nihewan Basin, Taphonomy, Broken long bones, Human behaviour

CLC Number:

K871.11Q915.2

WANG Xiaomin, LIU Lianqiang, CHEN Guopeng, LI Feng, XIE Fei, GAO Xing. Behavior of the ancient humans as reflected by the broken long bones of mammals from the Majuangou site, Nihewan Basin[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2024, 43(01): 91-105.

Figures/Tables 7

References 58

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角度Fracture angle→		中型动物Middle size		大型动物Large size
类型Fracture type↓		<90°	>90°	<90°	>90°
倾斜状断口Oblique fracture	数量n	187	13	221	9
	平均值Mean	69.11°	106.38°	66.34°	113.78°
	标准差SD	10.63	9.38	10.88	9.48
	95%置信范围CI	65.62°~72.6°	101.75°~111.02°	63.71°~68.98°	107.9°~119.66°
横向断口Transverse fracture	数量n	12	2	14	3
	平均值Mean	69.31°	106.5°	76.25°	99.33°
	标准差SD	14.05	12.02	7.5	0.58
	95%置信范围CI	62.02°~76.59°	52.83°~160.17°	67.42°~85.08°	98.36°~100.31°
纵向断口Longitudinal fracture	数量n	81	8	29	9
	平均值Mean	77.2°	114.38°	69.95°	108.67°
	标准差SD	2.59	22.6	9.51	9.19
	95%置信范围CI	74.73°~79.67°	99.24°~129.51°	66.94°~72.95°	102.97°~114.36°

角度Fracture angle→		中型动物Middle size		大型动物Large size
类型Fracture type↓		<90°	>90°	<90°	>90°
倾斜状断口Oblique fracture	数量n	187	13	221	9
	平均值Mean	69.11°	106.38°	66.34°	113.78°
	标准差SD	10.63	9.38	10.88	9.48
	95%置信范围CI	65.62°~72.6°	101.75°~111.02°	63.71°~68.98°	107.9°~119.66°
横向断口Transverse fracture	数量n	12	2	14	3
	平均值Mean	69.31°	106.5°	76.25°	99.33°
	标准差SD	14.05	12.02	7.5	0.58
	95%置信范围CI	62.02°~76.59°	52.83°~160.17°	67.42°~85.08°	98.36°~100.31°
纵向断口Longitudinal fracture	数量n	81	8	29	9
	平均值Mean	77.2°	114.38°	69.95°	108.67°
	标准差SD	2.59	22.6	9.51	9.19
	95%置信范围CI	74.73°~79.67°	99.24°~129.51°	66.94°~72.95°	102.97°~114.36°