Archaeozoological Insights Into Avian Exploitation in the Magdalenian of Belgium at the Caves of Trou du Frontal and Trou des Nutons

ABSTRACT
Bird exploitation in the European Upper Paleolithic remains poorly understood, particularly in northern regions. This study addresses that gap by presenting the archaeozoological analysis of bird remains from two Magdalenian sites in the Lesse valley (southern Belgium): Trou des Nutons and Trou du Frontal. Excavated in the nineteenth century, these sites are located near Trou de Chaleux—the most significant Magdalenian site in Belgium—and provide an opportunity to explore variability in human behavior within a local microregion. Our analysis reveals the first evidence of bird exploitation at Trou des Nutons and Trou du Frontal, with species including goose, merganser, ptarmigan, black grouse, and snowy owl. At Trou du Frontal, large bird bones also show evidence of use as raw material, consistent with patterns observed at Trou de Chaleux. Butchery marks linked to meat removal are present at both sites. To refine the chronocultural attributions, new radiocarbon dates were obtained on four bird bones bearing anthropogenic marks. Given the small size of these remains, a tailored protocol was developed involving near‐infrared screening, proteomic analysis to detect potential contaminants, and AMS dating using a gas ion source to maximize the chances of successful and reliable results. In addition, an experiment to produce a reference collection of metal‐tool scraping marks was conducted to aid interpretation. These results not only highlight the complexity of Magdalenian subsistence and craft practices, but also demonstrate the research potential of historical collections for understanding past human–bird interactions.