Spatial patterning of the archaeological and paleontological assemblage at Dmanisi, Georgia: An analysis of site formation and carnivore-hominin interaction in Block 2

Reed Coil; Martha Tappen; Reid Ferring; Maia Bukhsianidze; Medea Nioradze; David Lordkipanidze

doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102773

Spatial patterning of the archaeological and paleontological assemblage at Dmanisi, Georgia: An analysis of site formation and carnivore-hominin interaction in Block 2

J Hum Evol. 2020 Jun:143:102773. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102773. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Authors

Reed Coil¹, Martha Tappen², Reid Ferring³, Maia Bukhsianidze⁴, Medea Nioradze⁴, David Lordkipanidze⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Nur-Sult, 010000, Kazakhstan; Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, 395 Humphrey Center, 301 19th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN, 55755, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, 395 Humphrey Center, 301 19th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN, 55755, USA.
³ Department of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305279, Denton, TX, 76203, USA.
⁴ Georgian National Museum, 3/10 Shota Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, 0105, Georgia.

PMID: 32272350
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102773

Abstract

This study addresses the roles of biotic agents in site formation in the B1 strata of Block 2 at Dmanisi, Georgia, using theoretical and analogous frameworks for the interpretation of spatial behaviors of carnivores and hominins. For this study, stone material, faunal remains, and coprolites are analyzed to determine if any spatially distinct behaviors can be identified, located, and attributed to either hominins or carnivores. Faunal, stone, and coprolite assemblages are compared with each other, and lithic, taxonomic, and taphonomic subassemblages are compared with the overall distribution of their parent material. The spatial and taphonomic signatures suggest that hominin activity was only a small part of the contributing factors to site formation, whereas carnivores played a major role in the accumulation of bone.

Keywords: Carnivore-hominin interaction; Caucasus; Paleolithic; Site formation; Spatial analysis; Taphonomy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Archaeology*
Bone and Bones
Carnivora*
Fossils
Georgia (Republic)
Hominidae*
Paleontology
Predatory Behavior*