ZOOARCHAEOLOGY AND TAPHONOMY OF THE MIDDLE-UPPER PALEOLITHIC IN BONDI CAVE, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
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 re ects a more open setting for the Upper Paleolithic human occupations in this region, compared to the Holocene.
About the Authors
R. Yeshurun
Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa Haifa, 31905, Israel
Israel
Israel
M.-H. Moncel
Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 rue René Panhard, Paris, 75013, France
France
France
D. Pleurdeau
Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 rue René Panhard, Paris, 75013, France
France
France
R. Pinhasi
University College Dublin, Bel eld, Dublin 4, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
N. Tushabramishvili
Ilia State University, Cholokashvili 3/5, Tbilisi, 0162, Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
T. Agapishvili
Ilia State University, Cholokashvili 3/5, Tbilisi, 0162, Georgia
Georgian National Museum, Purtseladze 3, Tbilisi, 0105, Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
D. Lordkipanidze
Georgian National Museum, Purtseladze 3, Tbilisi, 0105, Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
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Review
For citations:
Yeshurun R., Moncel M., Pleurdeau D., Pinhasi R., Tushabramishvili N., Agapishvili T., Lordkipanidze D. ZOOARCHAEOLOGY AND TAPHONOMY OF THE MIDDLE-UPPER PALEOLITHIC IN BONDI CAVE, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. 2014;59(3):2-13. (In Russ.)
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