https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248417302749
July 2018

Abstract
The regular consumption of large mammal carcasses, as evidenced by butchery marks on fossils recovered from Early Stone Age archaeological sites, roughly coincides with the appearance of Homo habilis. However, the significance
of this
niche expansion cannot be appreciated without an understanding of hominin feeding behavior and their ecological interactions with mammalian carnivores. The Olduvai Geochronology and Archaeology Project (OGAP) has recovered a
large and well-preserved fossil assemblage from the HWK EE site, which was deposited just prior to the first appearance of Acheulean technology at
Olduvai
Gorge and likely represents one of the last H. habilis sites at Olduvai. This taphonomic analysis of the larger mammal fossil assemblage excavated from
HWK EE shows evidence of multiple occupations over a long period of time, suggesting the site offered resources that were attractive to hominins. There was a water source indicated by the presence of fish, crocodiles, and hippos, and there was possible tree cover in an otherwise open habitat. The site preserves several stratigraphic intervals with large fossil and artifact assemblages
within two of these intervals. Feeding traces on bone surfaces suggest
hominins
at the site obtained substantial amounts of flesh and marrow, particularly
from
smaller size group 1–2 carcasses, and exploited a wide range of taxa, including
megafauna. A strong carnivore signal suggests hominins scavenged much of
their animal foods during the two main stratigraphic intervals. In the
later interval,
lower carnivore tooth mark and hammerstone percussion mark frequencies, in addition to high epiphyseal to shaft fragment ratios, suggest hominins and carnivores did not fully exploit bone marrow and grease, which may have been acquired from nutritionally-stressed animals that died during a dry period at Olduvai. The diversity of fauna that preserve evidence of butchery
suggests that
the HWK EE hominins were opportunistic in their acquisition of carcass foods.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 10:07:37 PM UTC-5, Primum Sapienti wrote:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248417302749
July 2018

Abstract
The regular consumption of large mammal carcasses, as evidenced by butchery marks on fossils recovered from Early Stone Age archaeological sites, roughly
coincides with the appearance of Homo habilis. However, the significance
of this
niche expansion cannot be appreciated without an understanding of hominin feeding behavior and their ecological interactions with mammalian carnivores.
The Olduvai Geochronology and Archaeology Project (OGAP) has recovered a large and well-preserved fossil assemblage from the HWK EE site, which was deposited just prior to the first appearance of Acheulean technology at Olduvai
Gorge and likely represents one of the last H. habilis sites at Olduvai. This
taphonomic analysis of the larger mammal fossil assemblage excavated from HWK EE shows evidence of multiple occupations over a long period of time, suggesting the site offered resources that were attractive to hominins. There
was a water source indicated by the presence of fish, crocodiles, and hippos,
and there was possible tree cover in an otherwise open habitat. The site preserves several stratigraphic intervals with large fossil and artifact assemblages
within two of these intervals. Feeding traces on bone surfaces suggest hominins
at the site obtained substantial amounts of flesh and marrow, particularly from
smaller size group 1–2 carcasses, and exploited a wide range of taxa, including
megafauna. A strong carnivore signal suggests hominins scavenged much of their animal foods during the two main stratigraphic intervals. In the
later interval,
lower carnivore tooth mark and hammerstone percussion mark frequencies, in addition to high epiphyseal to shaft fragment ratios, suggest hominins and carnivores did not fully exploit bone marrow and grease, which may have been acquired from nutritionally-stressed animals that died during a dry period at
Olduvai. The diversity of fauna that preserve evidence of butchery
suggests that
the HWK EE hominins were opportunistic in their acquisition of carcass foods.

Pygmies slit the stems of large broad-leaves and clothespin them to the wicker frame of their dome huts. Ancient Homo did the same with their domeshield, and used the same slit & pin method to hang and cure ultra-thin meat slices at streamside (sunnier
there than under the forest canopy) before fire was domesticated. Killing a boar or sow required a strong sharp spear, the hunters stood behind shields next to trees, if charged they climbed 2' up the tree, safe since the boar couldn't raise it's head,
unlike a bull or stag. (Russians do this, they cling to tree trunks just above the ground, no need to climb higher.)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)