Elsevier

Quaternary International

Volume 421, 9 November 2016, Pages 154-172
Quaternary International

Neanderthal scraping and manual handling of raptors wing bones: Evidence from Fumane Cave. Experimental activities and comparison

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2015.12.078Get rights and content

Abstract

Given the still scanty amount of data ascribable to the interaction between raptors and hominins, this contribution aims to fuel the debate on the complexity of Neanderthal behavior during MIS3 in Western Eurasia. Nowadays, large raptors in general are scarce in nature, due to being top consumers in the trophic chain, and attracted hominins possibly as advantageous indicators of scavenging and feeding opportunities. Nevertheless, a symbolic rather than alimentary significance was designed from several taphonomic investigations, demonstrating various deliberate actions for removing wings, feathers and talons from raptors of different sizes. Following the results of taphonomic examinations of four raptors' (cf. Aegypius monachus, cf. Gypaetus barbatus, Clanga clanga and Falco columbarius) bones recovered from layer A9 at Fumane Cave, Italy, the data produced are here compared and supported by experimental butchering and contextualized within a wider context that ranges into the Early Upper Palaeolithic. Comparable to previous examples from Fumane and from other sites, the traces impressed on the surface of the wing bones suggest the recovery of the feathers or the wing tip adorned of the primary feathers, but also more complex and insisted interventions aimed to prepare the bone for a possible functional use.

Introduction

Despite ephemeral evidence of human hunting or manipulation of birds since the Early Pleistocene in Europe and Western Asia (Huguet, 2007, Güleç et al., 2009), and secure evidence of edible bird consumption since the Middle Pleistocene (Roger, 2004, Blasco and Fernández Peris, 2009; Blasco and Fernández Peris, 2012a, Blasco and Fernández Peris, 2012b, Blasco et al., 2013), the current amount of data ascribable to the interaction between raptors and hominins is still scanty, and seems to begin with the Neanderthals. Traces from a handful of sites securely reveal that vultures, eagles and falcons were exploited for the extraction of claws, wings, feathers and other body parts since at least approximately 130 ky BP (Radovčić et al., 2015). Further, statistics from palaeontological data show a correlation between sites and the incidence of diurnal raptors bones across a vast area, from Europe to the Levant (Finlayson et al., 2012). These findings stimulate discussions on those aspects of Neanderthal behavior related to the acquisition, processing, and the intended functional or symbolic use of these avian elements, in addition to those of anatomically modern humans. Nowadays, eagles and large raptors in general are among the most scarce birds in nature, being top consumers in the trophic chain (Chiavetta, 1981, Benasso and Perco, 1985), but we cannot exclude that their populations were larger during the Pleistocene and that this increased the frequency of interactions (Finlayson and Finlayson, 2016). The attractiveness of these large and powerful diurnal birds to hominins can be perceived as possibly advantageous to scavenging, where based on the observation of vultures (Margalida et al., 2008, Krüger Sonja et al., 2015, Finlayson and Finlayson, 2016), the location of freshly predated large herbivores in an open environment could be inferred (Schaller and Lowther, 1969).

Section snippets

The exploitation of diurnal raptors in Europe during MP and early UP period

Although raptor bone remains are common in Pleistocene deposits (Finlayson et al., 2012), evidence for their exploitation in the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic is scarce. Among the ephemeral traces of interaction between hominins and raptors, the most known findings are represented by the isolated, cut-marked pedal phalanges of golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, and cinereous vulture, discovered at Krapina, Croatia (Radovčić et al., 2015), Grotta di Fumane (Fiore et al., 2004), and Grotta Rio

Materials and methods

Fumane Cave in the western Monti Lessini, northern Italy, shelters a remarkable, finely-layered late Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic sequence (Broglio et al., 2006, Peresani et al., 2008, Peresani, 2012). Mousterian unit A9 is an ensemble of thin levels and lenses composed of frost-shattered breccia, aeolian silt, sandy levels, and dark sediments containing hearths, bones (Table 2), lithics, charcoals, and human remains resulting from intense anthropic accumulation (Peresani, 1998, Basile

Experimentation

The experimental butchering of four large adult raptors, a male lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus, an Eurasian griffon Gyps fulvus, and two Eurasian eagle-owl Bubo bubo has been carried out with the aim to test the efficacy of stone tools in the exploitation of the wing, feathers, and sinews, and the motions and traces these left on the bone surfaces. This follows a first experiment aimed at removing all of the ungual phalanges and keratin to produce evidence for comparisons with the taphonomic

Discussion and conclusion

The taphonomic analysis of the raptor remains found in layer A9 at Fumane Cave has produced relevant evidence, particularly in relation to the traces impressed on the surface of three bones. Of this evidence, the most intriguing is the ensemble of anthropic modifications observed on the bones of Clanga clanga and Falco colombarius, which have been ascribed to the recovery of feathers, a practice already known at Fumane on other raptors and in literature (Fiore et al., 2016, Peresani et al., 2011

Acknowledgements

Research at Fumane is conducted by the Ferrara University in the framework of a project supported by the Ministry of Culture, Veneto Archaeological Superintendency, public institutions (Lessinia Mountain Community, Regional Natural Park, Veneto Region – Department for Cultural Heritage, Fumane Municipality) and private institutions and companies (Cariverona Foundation, Valpolicella – Benaco Bank, Roberto Gardina & C.). Funding is provided by Lessinia Mountain Community studentship and contracts

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