engleski

Testing Claims for Neanderthal Cannibalism at Krapina: A quantitative analysis of bone surface modifications on associated faunal remains

The Krapina site in Croatia represents the richest Neanderthal deposit in the world. Yet, it is the evidence for cannibalism in the form of cut-marked, burnt, and highly fragmentary bone intermixed with faunal remains that makes this site so intriguing. However, recent inspection of the assemblage has led to contention over this interpretation, with suggestions of other agents potentially involved in the observed pattern, such as trampling or carnivore tooth marks. Therefore, molds were taken of 10 suspected cut marks from the Krapina faunal remains and subsequently scanned with a white-light confocal profilometer to create high-resolution 3-D models of each mark. Measurements were then taken for 12 variables that include both volumetric and profile dimensions. The data obtained from each mark were then compared to a large experimental database of stone tool cut marks, carnivore tooth marks, trampling marks, and percussion marks. A Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) was performed for agent identification of each archaeological mark. The results of the QDA indicate a mixture of agents at the site, with five marks classifying as trampling marks, three as cut marks, and one as a tooth mark. These results suggest potentially more trampling at the site than previously considered and may offer an alternative explanation for the high-level of bone fragmentation. Future research will investigate bone surface marks discovered on the Neanderthal remains to determine if there is a similar mixture of agents responsible for the bone surface modifications as found with the fauna.

bone surface modifications ; quantitative analysis ; cannibalism

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