engleski

Taphonomic insights into MIS 5e avifauna: re-examining the Krapina bird remains

Krapina is well known Neanderthal site, situated in NW Croatia. Sandstone rock shelter on Hušnjakovo hill above the Krapinica River was excavated by Croatian geologist and palaeontologist Gorjanović-Kramberger. The site is dated to approximately 130, 000 years ago or MIS 5e by ESR and uranium series (Rink et al., 1995). Large mammal faunal assemblage corroborates these dates (Miracle, 2011). Except large assemblage of more than 900 Neanderthal bones and teeth (Radovčić et al. 1988), a rich faunal assemblage consists of 25 mammalian species, dominated by cave bear, beaver, Merck’s rhino and large bovids, and in addition birds, molluscs and several reptile bones. Lambrecht (1915) first examined and published Krapina bird specimens. The avifauna was subsequently revised by V. Malez (Malez and Malez, 1988). Since only 6 out of 28 remains are marked with stratigraphic information, avifaunal remains are considered here as one assemblage. Six specimens with stratigraphic layers written on them are as follows: faded red marking 6B on three white-tailed eagle talons (386.2, 386.3, and most probably 385.2), pencil marking 9 on two white-tailed eagle specimens (talon 385.4 and fibula 386.4), and a layer marking not visible anymore but reported by Malez & Malez (1988) on a Anseriformes specimen (386.5). A preliminary taphonomic study and taxonomic revision of the Krapina avifaunal assemblage was made, with emphasis on bone surface modification. Aim of this research was to examine what were the main taphonomic agents of accumulation of bird remains. Taphonomic analyses on white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) phalanges have been already published by Radovčić et al. (2015). The bird bone surfaces are generally well preserved. There are some weathering features, such as eroded surfaces and fine line fractures. Chemical etchings recorded on three passerine bones, were most probably caused by digestive acids of small animals. Tawny owl (Strix aluco) could be the main factor of accumulation of the bird bones from Krapina assemblage, since secondary source of tawny owls food are medium sized and small song- birds birds (e.g. Zawadska and Zawadski, 2007 ; Galeotti et al, 2009). Tawny owl probably roosted or nested in crevices near the site and might have died naturally there, and was deposited within the Krapina layers. However, activities of other birds of prey that fed on birds and regurgitate pellets under their roost and nest sites could not be excluded, even though their remains have not been found. The only bones with evidence of human manipulation are white tailed eagles’ phalanges that bear cut marks. These bones were brought to the site by the Neanderthals (Radovčić et al., 2015). More detailed analyses of the mineral composition of staining and incrustation will be conducted in the future.

birds, Neandertals, taphonomy

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