Experimental butchering of a chimpanzee carcass for archaeological purposes

Two archaeological assemblages from the Sierra de Atapuerca sites show evidence of anthropogenic cannibalism. These are the late Early Pleistocene level TD6-2 at Gran Dolina, and the Bronze Age level MIR4 in the Mirador Cave. Despite the chronological distance between these two assemblages, they share the common feature that the human remains exhibit a high frequency of anthropogenic modifications (cut marks, percussion pits and notches and peeling). This frequency could denote special treatment of bodies, or else be the normal result of the butchering process. In order to test these possibilities, we subjected a chimpanzee carcass to a butchering process. The processing was intensive and intended to simulate preparation for consumption. In doing this, we used several simple flakes made from quartzite and chert from quarries in the Sierra de Atapuerca. The skull, long bones, metapodials and phalanges were also fractured in order to remove the brain and bone marrow. As a result, about 40% of the remains showed some kind of human modification. The frequency, distribution and characteristics of these modifications are very similar to those documented on the remains of Homo antecessor from TD6-2. In case of the MIR4 assemblage, the results are similar except in the treatment of skulls. Our results indicate that high frequencies of anthropogenic modifications are common after an intensive butchering process intended to prepare a hominin body for consumption in different contexts (both where there was possible ritual behavior and where this was not the case and the modifications are not the result of special treatment).This work was supported by Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) of Spain Government, project nº CGL2012-38434-C03-03 and project nº HAR2012-32548Peer reviewe

Selection of the quartzite and chert flakes used in the butchery experiment.

<p>a) QTAC19; b) QTAC20; c) QTAC21; d) SNC40; e) SNC41 and f) SNC42.</p

Number remains of more than 2cm recovered.

<p>Number remains of more than 2cm recovered.</p

Number of specimens that show cut marks.

<p>Number of specimens that show cut marks.</p

Distribution of the cut marks on fore limb elements.

<p>a) Scapulae, b) humeri, c) radii d) and ulna of the chimpanzee sample.</p

Multiple Correspondence Analysis of cut mark distribution from experimental chimpanzee elements, <i>Homo antecessor</i> and Cervidae of TD6–2 assemblage and <i>Homo sapiens</i> and ovicaprini of MIR4A assemblages.

<p>Figure captions: A = NISP; B = Maxim number of cut marks on one specimen; C = Skull with cut marks (NISP); D = Mandible with cut marks (NISP); E = Ribs with cut marks (NISP); F = Vertebrae with cut marks (NISP); G = Scapulae with cut marks (NISP); H = Humeri with cut marks (NISP); I = Radii with cut marks (NISP); J = Coxa with cut marks (NISP); K = Femurs with cut marks (NISP); L = Tibiae with cut marks (NISP); M = Metapodials with cut marks (NISP); N = Phalanges with cut marks (NISP); O = Remains with defleshing cut marks; P = Remains with disarticulation cut marks; Q = Remains with skinning cut marks; R = Remains with peeling; S = Remains with percussion marks; T = Total of remains with anthropogenic modifications</p

Distribution of cut marks on <i>Homo sapiens</i> from MIR4A limb bones.

<p>a) humerus, b) ulnae, c) tibiae, d) femurs, e) fibula and f) metatarsal.</p

Experimental protocol variables and edge features of the stone tools.

<p>Experimental protocol variables and edge features of the stone tools.</p

Distribution of the cut marks on metapodials and phalanges of the chimpanzee sample.

<p>Distribution of the cut marks on metapodials and phalanges of the chimpanzee sample.</p

Distribution of cut marks on <i>Homo sapiens</i> from MIR4A elements.

<p>a) skulls, b) mandibles, c) clavicles, d) vertebrae, e) ribs, f) and scapulae.</p