The Taphonomic Relevance of the Analysis of Bovid Long Limb Bone Shaft Features and Their Application to Element IdentificationStudy of Bone Thickness and Morphology of the Medullary Cavity
- Barba, Rebeca
- Domínguez-Rodrigo, Manuel
ISSN: 1696-0815
Year of publication: 2005
Volume: 3
Issue: 1
Pages: 17-42
Type: Article
More publications in: Journal of taphonomy
Abstract
Recent debates on equifinality processes involved in skeletal part analyses have shown the accuracy of MNE identification by using long limb shaft fragments. Given the taphonomic and behavioural relevance of elaborating accurate skeletal part profiles at archaeological sites, the present work will show a combined set of features used to identify elements from shaft specimens. Landmark features (already in use by several researchers) are combined with shaft thickness/shape and with new diagnostic characteristics of medullary surfaces, which enable researchers to identify most of the shaft fragments from bovid animals that can be found in archaeological assemblages.