Biological accumulations in archaeological sites: Amalda VII and Esquilleu III-IV

Abstract

Lithic and bone associations from Paleolithic sites are usually assumed to be episodes of human activity when taphonomic studies are not carried out. Nevertheless, such concentrations are occasionally caused by diverse agents. Here we present the study carried out on the bone assemblage of goat and chamois of the Palaeolithic sites of the level VII of Amalda Cave (Zestoa, Guipuzcoa) and the III and IV of the Esquilleu Cave (Castro Cillorigo, Cantabria) which are the result of a biological contribution by carnivores and not by humans. After each site is analysed and compared we can suggest which carnivore type produced these bone assemblages and propose some traits about carnivore behaviour observed in these assemblages.