Abstract
We present a detailed zooarchaeological and taphonomic study of Bondi Cave, western Georgia, containing Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic levels. The faunal assemblages are dominated by Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica) and European bison (Bison cf. bonasus). High proportions of specimens bearing cut marks and percussion marks indicate that human activity was the main depositional agent. Carcass transport was selective according to the animal's size. Assemblage characteristics suggest short occupations of the cave by mobile Upper Paleolithic foragers. The general composition of the fauna probably reflects a more open setting for the Upper Paleolithic human occupations in this region, compared to the Holocene.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 490 |
Pages (from-to) | 2-13 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Sep 2014 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:Copyright © 2014, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords
- Caucasus
- Late Pleistocene
- hunting
- paleoecology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Archaeology
- Cultural Studies