Assessing the distribution of African Palaeolithic sites: a predictive model of collagen degradation
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Assessing the distribution of African Palaeolithic sites : a predictive model of collagen degradation. / Holmes, Kathryn M.; Robson Brown, Kate A.; Oates, William P.; Collins, Matthew J.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 32, No. 2, 2005, p. 157-166.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the distribution of African Palaeolithic sites
T2 - a predictive model of collagen degradation
AU - Holmes, Kathryn M.
AU - Robson Brown, Kate A.
AU - Oates, William P.
AU - Collins, Matthew J.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - In order to assess the distribution of African Palaeolithic sites and hominin remains, we need an understanding of the factors that may affect the preservation of archaeological material in the fossil record. One of the main factors that is thought to affect seriously the global distribution of fossil remains is taphonomy, but it would seem that taphonomic processes may themselves be overprinted by collagen degradation. The rate of collagen loss is highly temperature dependent, and it has been shown that bone is more likely to be preserved in areas of lower temperature and so lower collagen loss. Hence, it would be expected that fossil fauna remains would be distributed in areas of low collagen loss, i.e. low temperature. Conversely, lithics will not be subject to a temperature bias in their preservation. We have tested this hypothesis through the use of archaeological material. Our results show that the distributions of both lithic and faunal assemblages are non-random across the African continent, with all archaeological sites being found in areas of relatively low collagen degradation. This implies that bone collagen degradation is not the only factor affecting the distribution of African Palaeolithic sites and hominin remains. We suggest that the site distribution is not a reflection of bias in excavation history, but is a real phenomenon reflecting hominin habitat choice.
AB - In order to assess the distribution of African Palaeolithic sites and hominin remains, we need an understanding of the factors that may affect the preservation of archaeological material in the fossil record. One of the main factors that is thought to affect seriously the global distribution of fossil remains is taphonomy, but it would seem that taphonomic processes may themselves be overprinted by collagen degradation. The rate of collagen loss is highly temperature dependent, and it has been shown that bone is more likely to be preserved in areas of lower temperature and so lower collagen loss. Hence, it would be expected that fossil fauna remains would be distributed in areas of low collagen loss, i.e. low temperature. Conversely, lithics will not be subject to a temperature bias in their preservation. We have tested this hypothesis through the use of archaeological material. Our results show that the distributions of both lithic and faunal assemblages are non-random across the African continent, with all archaeological sites being found in areas of relatively low collagen degradation. This implies that bone collagen degradation is not the only factor affecting the distribution of African Palaeolithic sites and hominin remains. We suggest that the site distribution is not a reflection of bias in excavation history, but is a real phenomenon reflecting hominin habitat choice.
KW - Africa
KW - Cave sites
KW - Collagen degradation
KW - Fauna
KW - Hominin
KW - Lithic
KW - Open sites
U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2004.06.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2004.06.002
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:11244349972
VL - 32
SP - 157
EP - 166
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
SN - 0305-4403
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 232088783