Flashcards on Hominin Behavioral Ecology and Stone Tools
Hominin Behavioral Ecology & Stone Tools: Student Guide
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Taphonomy
13 cards
Card 1
Question: What is meant by 'equifinality of agency' in taphonomy?
Answer: Different agents (e.g., hominins, crocodylians, carnivores) can produce similar bone modifications, making it difficult to determine which agent cause
Card 2
Question: Why is the sequence of access to a carcass difficult to establish in taphonomic studies?
Answer: Because multiple agents can create similar bone modifications and marks (equifinality), obscuring which agent accessed the carcass first or the order
Card 3
Question: What types of bone surface modifications can be produced by crocodiles that mimic stone-tool marks?
Answer: Linear scores, V-shaped grooves with internal striae, and other cut-like features can be produced by crocodile bites and mimic stone-tool inflicted ma
Card 4
Question: What evidence indicates crocodiles can be important bone modifiers?
Answer: Examples include surface-modified bones attributed to crocodile activity (e.g., Daka 3.4 Ma) and newly erupted crocodile teeth that are sharp enough t
Card 5
Question: Give an example from the content of an early hominin specimen showing mixed bone surface modifications.
Answer: A 3.4 Ma Australopithecus afarensis humerus shows mixed bone surface modifications, indicating multiple modifying agents.
Card 6
Question: What kinds of carnivore tooth-mark patterns are summarized in the presentation?
Answer: The presentation notes distinctions among large-bodied felid tooth marks only, hyaenid tooth marks only, and tooth marks from both carnivorans, illust
Card 7
Question: According to the content, do all carnivores destroy bones to the same extent?
Answer: No; all carnivores destroy bones but some destroy bones more extensively than others.
Card 8
Question: What are 'percussion notches' and 'crushing notches' examples of in taphonomy?
Answer: They are types of bone modifications discussed as part of evidence for persistent soft-tissue consumption and processing of bones.
Card 9
Question: What types of faunal resources did early hominins include in their diet according to the content?
Answer: Diverse terrestrial and aquatic animals, with examples dated to around 1.95 Ma in East Turkana, Kenya.
Card 10
Question: What is an example of a functional association between tools and faunal remains in taphonomic context (without describing tools themselves)?
Answer: Instances where objects (tools) were embedded in bones at archaeological sites (e.g., 0.8 Ma Melka Kunture and 110 ka Klasies River) demonstrate a dir