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Human exploitation of carnivores in Pleistocene China: A case study of the faunal remains from Shuidonggou Locality 7

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Abstract

Hominin-animal interactions at Pleistocene archaeological sites have been the main subject of research during human evolution. However, in contrast to that of ungulates, little is known about the evidence of human processing of carnivore species in this time interval of China. In this paper, we present the first case report of an interactive relationship between carnivore species and hunter-gathers in Pleistocene China, based mainly on a detailed taphonomic study of the faunal remains from Shuidonggou Locality 7. It seems highly probable that hominins butchered some individuals of carnivores and roasted bone elements with adhering meat at the site; whereas it’s equally feasible that these animals were exploited by hominins mainly for their pelt or fur. In either way, evidence from the site indicates novel strategies in adaptive behaviors adopted by Late Pleistocene foragers in harsh environments of Northwest China.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all the participants in SDG7 fieldwork. We also thank Dr. Mingshi Suo from the Reco System Integration Limited Company (Beijing) for his assistance in taking the micro-photos with Olympus OLS 5500. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41672023 & 41772025).

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  1. Key Laboratory for Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100044, China

    Shuangquan Zhang, Yue Zhang, Shuwen Pei & Xing Gao

  2. CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing, 100044, China

    Shuangquan Zhang, Yue Zhang, Shuwen Pei & Xing Gao

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Shuangquan Zhang & Xing Gao

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Correspondence to Shuangquan Zhang.

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Zhang, S., Zhang, Y., Pei, S. et al. Human exploitation of carnivores in Pleistocene China: A case study of the faunal remains from Shuidonggou Locality 7. Sci. China Earth Sci. 63, 132–144 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-019-9389-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-019-9389-9

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