Taphonomic analysis of the level 3b fauna at BK, Olduvai Gorge

摘要

The association of stone tools and modified bones at archaeological African Plio-Pleistocene sites is essential to understanding the socio-economics of early hominin behavior. Previous research at BK suggests the site was repeatedly visited by hominins for short time periods. During these occupations, the hominins had a primary role in the exploitation of small, medium, and large size carcasses. The present study analyzes the faunal material recovered from level 3b at BK (BK3b). The results indicate that BK3b operated as a place consciously selected by hominins to carry out specific activities, which resulted in a large accumulation of lithic materials and bone remains. The high frequency of cut-marked specimens, even more than is documented at FLK Zinj, supports the idea that hominins at BK3b butchered and demarrowed the bones from animals of all sizes.