Paper published in a journal (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Mammoths used as food and building resources by Neanderthals: Zooarchaeological study applied to layer 4, Molodova I (Ukraine)
Demay, Laëtitia; Péan, Stéphane; Patou-Mathis, Marylène
2012In Quaternary International, 276-277 (25 October 2012), p. 212-226
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
Demay et al, 2012 Molodova.pdf
Publisher postprint (3.32 MB)
Download

© 2012INQUA/Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved


All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
Molodova I; Mammoth; Neandertal
Abstract :
[en] Considering Neanderthal subsistence, the use of mammoth resources has been particularly discussed. Apart from procurement for food, the use of mammoth bones as building material has been proposed. The hypothesis was based on the discovery made in Molodova I, Ukraine (Dniester valley). In this large multistratified open-air site, a rich Mousterian layer was excavated. Dated to the Inter-Pleniglacial (MIS 3), it has yielded 40 000 lithic remains associated with ca. 3000 mammal bones, mostly from mammoth. Several areas have been excavated: a pit filled with bones, different areas of activities (butchering, tool production), twenty-five hearths and a circular accumulation made of mammoth bones, described as a dwelling structure set up by Neanderthals. Attested dwelling structures made of mammoth bones are known in Upper Paleolithic sites, from Ukraine and Russia, attributed to the Epigravettian tradition. This paper presents a zooarchaeological study of large mammal remains from Molodova I layer 4, to understand the modalities of acquisition and utilization of mammoth resources for food and technical purposes, especially to test the hypothesis of using bones as building elements. The number of mammoths is estimated to at least fifteen individuals of all age classes and both sexes, which died during several episodes, near or on the site. The taphonomic modifications due to weathering, water percolation and plant roots indicate the location of bones in holes, such as the pit and the basement of the circular accumulation. Secondary actions of carnivores, especially of hyaenid type, are rare on bones, showing that the assemblage was not accumulated by these predators. The anatomical preservation, the age and sex features and the taphonomic data indicate several modalities of mammoth acquisition by hunting, scavenging and collecting. Based on anthropogenic marks, mammoth meat has been eaten. The presence of series of striations and ochre on mammoth bones are associated with a technical or symbolic use. Furthermore, mammoth bones have been deliberately selected (long and flat bones, tusks, connected vertebrae) and circularly arranged. This mammoth bone structure could be described as the basement of a wooden cover or as a wind-screen. The inner presence of fifteen hearths, lithic artifacts and waste of mammal butchery and cooking is characteristic of a domestic area, which was probably the centre of a residential camp recurrently settled. It appears that Neanderthals were the oldest known humans who used mammoth bones to build a dwelling structure.
Disciplines :
Archaeology
Author, co-author :
Demay, Laëtitia ;  Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1, rue René Panhard, 75013 Paris, France CNRS UMR 7194 > Doc. histoire, art & archéo (Bologne)
Péan, Stéphane
Patou-Mathis, Marylène
Language :
English
Title :
Mammoths used as food and building resources by Neanderthals: Zooarchaeological study applied to layer 4, Molodova I (Ukraine)
Publication date :
25 October 2012
Event name :
Vth International Conference on mammoths and their relatives
Event organizer :
Frédéric Lacombat, Dick Mol
Event place :
Le Puy en Velay, France
Event date :
30 August-5 September 2010
Audience :
International
Journal title :
Quaternary International
ISSN :
1040-6182
eISSN :
1873-4553
Publisher :
Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science, Oxford, United Kingdom
Special issue title :
Mammoths and their relatives 2: Biotopes, evolution and human impact
Volume :
276-277
Issue :
25 October 2012
Pages :
212-226
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
CNRS/NASU
Available on ORBi :
since 08 January 2016

Statistics


Number of views
151 (0 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
3555 (1 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
40
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
39
OpenCitations
 
33

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi