RT Journal Article
T1 Study of the SHK Main Site faunal assemblage, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania: Implications for Bed II taphonomy, paleoecology, and hominin utilization of megafauna
A1 Domínguez-Rodrigo, Manuel
A1 Díez Martín, Fernando
A1 Yravedra Sainz De Los Terreros, José
A1 Barba, Rebeca
A1 Mabulla, Audax
A1 Baquedano, Enrique
A1 Uribelarrea Del Val, David
A1 Sánchez-Yustos, Policarpo
A1 Eren, Metin
AB Recent excavations at the SHK Main Site, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, have unearthed a dense concentration of stone tools and faunal remains. Here, we describe how the site contributes to the understanding of hominin subsistence strategies and paleoecology during Bed II times (1.78–1.34 Ma). This palimpsestic site is located within, and on the over-bank of, a river channel. Taphonomic analyses suggest that a heterogeneous set of taphonomic agents played a role in the accumulation and modification of the faunal assemblage. Although hominins played a rather marginal part in this assemblage's faunal accumulation and modification, the recovered faunal assemblage includes evidence that is consistent with hominin exploitation of hippopotamus and equid. This evidence underscores the possibility that by 1.5 Ma hominins were diversifying their diet and enlarging their ecological niche by exploiting, probably opportunistically, megafaunal remains more commonly than previously documented. Taphonomic spatial analysis shows differences in bone preservation and modification according to whether faunal specimens were located inside the river channel or on its over-bank. We also show that spatial taphonomic analysis can contribute to the understanding of palimpsest-site formation, as well as to the reconstruction of diverse taphonomic agents responsible for that formation. A comparative analysis of taxonomic diversity between SHK versus other upper Bed II sites supports the notion that the environment was fairly open prior to the beginning of the Bed III deposits. The large number of lithic artifacts concentrated at the SHK Main Site, when considered in conjunction with the small amount of evidence for carcass-processing, suggests that hominins engaged in a diversity of activities beyond butchery.
PB Elsevier
SN 1040-6182
YR 2014
FD 2014-02-16
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/34298
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/34298
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)
NO Comunidad de Madrid
NO Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship
NO British Academy
DS Docta Complutense
RD 9 abr 2025