Breathing Life into Fossils : Taphonomic Studies in Honor of C. K. (Bob) Brain

by Pickering, Travis Rayne; Schick, Kathy; Toth, Nicholas

• ISBN13: 9780979227615
• ISBN10: 0979227615
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-09-30
• Publisher: David Brown Book Co

Summary

Taphonomy, the study of the processes leading to the fossilization of organic remains, is one of the most important avenues of inquiry in human origins research. Breathing Life into Fossils is a major contribution to taphonomic studies in paleoanthropology and natural history. This book emanates from a Stone Age Institute conference celebrating the life and career of naturalist Bob Brain, a pioneer in bringing taphonomic perspectives to human evolutionary studies. Contributions by leading researchers provide a state-of-the art look at the maturing field of taphonomy and the unique perspectives it provides to research into human origins. This important volume reveals approaches taken to the study of bone accumulations at prehistoric sites in Africa, Eurasia, and America, and provides fascinating insights into patterns produced by carnivores, by hunter-gatherers, and by our human ancestors.

Table of Contents

Fifty Years of Fun with Fossils: Some Cave Taphonomy-Related Ideas and Concepts that Emerged Between 1953 and 2003	p. 1
Rather Odd Detective Stories: A View of Some Actualistic and Taphonomic Trends in Paleoindian Studies	p. 25
The Destruction of Skeletal Elements by Carnivores: The Growth of a General Model for Skeletal Element Destruction and Survival in Zooarchaeological Assemblages	p. 37
Horninids and Carnivores at Krorndraai and Other Quaternary Sites in Southern Africa	p. 67
Taphonomic Analysis of an Excavated Striped Hyena Den from the Eastern Desert of Jordan	p. 75
Taphonomy and Site Formation of Two Early Miocene Sites on Rusinga Island, Kenya	p. 107
Are You In or Out (of Africa)? Site Formation at Dmanisi and Actualistic Studies in Africa	p. 119
Changes Through Time in Carcass Survival in the Amboseli Ecosystem, Southern Kenya	p. 137
Vertebrate Taphonomic Perspectives on Oldowan Hominin Land Use in the Plio-Pleistocene Olduvai Basin, Tanzania	p. 161
The Earlier Stone Age in South Africa: Site Context and the Influence of Cave Studies	p. 181
Taphonomy of Sterkfontein Australopithecus Skeletons	p. 199
Taphonomy of Immature Hominid Skulls and the Taung, Mojokerto, and Herto Specimens	p. 207
Carcass Foraging by Early Hominids at Swartkrans Cave (South Africa): A New Investigation of the Zooarchaeology and Taphonomy of Member 3	p. 233
Equifinality in Carnivore Tooth Marks and the Extended Concept of Archaeological Palimpsests: Implications for Models of Passive Scavenging by Early Hominids	p. 255
Butchering Backstraps and Bearing Backbones: Insights from Hadza Foragers and Implications for Paleolithic Archaeology	p. 269
Carnivora and Carnivory: Assessing Hominid Toothmarks in Zooarchaeology	p. 281
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