<p>Excavations at Ratho Kroonkop, a rain-control site in the Limpopo Valley, South Africa, yielded a large faunal assemblage consisting of both wild and domestic taxa. This paper reports the results of a detailed taphonomic analysis of the entire faunal assemblage from Ratho Kroonkop. By utilizing standardized zooarchaeological identification methods, combined with established taphonomic indicators of anthropogenic, zoogenic, and natural bone modifiers examined macro- and microscopically, our study determined that there are spatial differences in the frequency of anthropogenic modifications and in carcass dismemberment patterns between two distinct areas of the site. Additionally, we established that the central areas of Ratho Kroonkop were likely used for additional carcass dismemberment, particularly in the case of large and very large mammals, and bones were exposed to heat, natural elements, and carnivore activity in these areas. The taphonomic data also indicates that Ratho Kroonkop was not utilized as a domestic space but rather as a ritual one.&#xa0;</p>

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Taphonomy Patterns at Ratho Kroonkop, a Rain-Control Site in the Limpopo Valley, South Africa

  • K.D. Croll,
  • J.R. Reynard,
  • S. Badenhorst,
  • M.H. Schoeman

摘要

Excavations at Ratho Kroonkop, a rain-control site in the Limpopo Valley, South Africa, yielded a large faunal assemblage consisting of both wild and domestic taxa. This paper reports the results of a detailed taphonomic analysis of the entire faunal assemblage from Ratho Kroonkop. By utilizing standardized zooarchaeological identification methods, combined with established taphonomic indicators of anthropogenic, zoogenic, and natural bone modifiers examined macro- and microscopically, our study determined that there are spatial differences in the frequency of anthropogenic modifications and in carcass dismemberment patterns between two distinct areas of the site. Additionally, we established that the central areas of Ratho Kroonkop were likely used for additional carcass dismemberment, particularly in the case of large and very large mammals, and bones were exposed to heat, natural elements, and carnivore activity in these areas. The taphonomic data also indicates that Ratho Kroonkop was not utilized as a domestic space but rather as a ritual one.