Exploitation of Anseriformes at two Upper Palaeolithic sites in

• Main Authors: Grotta Del, Antonio Tagliacozzo, Monica Gala
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Key words; Italy; Final Epigravettian; Anseriformes; taphonomy; butchering. Antonio TAGLIACOZZO; M; Brune; Anser fabalis; Branta bernicla; Brent goose
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.466.3664; http://www.isez.pan.krakow.pl/journals/azc_v/pdf/45/09.pdf

Abstract. In this paper the results of an analysis of bone surfaces of Anseriformes from the Epigravettian levels of Grotta Romanelli (“Terre brune ” formation, levels A-E), are com-pared with new data from the level “L ” of Grotta della Madonna. A large number of bird remains were found in these two caves: over 32,000 specimens (3,650 individuals) be-longing to 109 species from Grotta Romanelli and over 7,400 bones (still under investiga-tion) from Grotta della Madonna. In both sites many species from aquatic environments are present, mainly Anseriformes. However, at Grotta della Madonna there is a preva-lence of duck species, that lived in the large delta. Among these Mallard Anas platyrhyn-chos, Pochard Aythya ferina and Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula are dominant. At Grotta Romanelli the coastal plain had abundant marshy areas, where geese were frequent (White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons, Bean Goose Anser fabalis and Brent Goose Branta bernicla). Despite the different composition of the two bird assemblages, there are similarities in the human traces left on the bones. A thorough analysis of all the bones of Anseriformes was carried out with an optical microscope. This was done so as to identify the precise location and character of the butchery marks. This, together with the analysis