Thorn Lesions in a Modern Osteological Collection of Guanaco ( Lama guanicoe )

A New Paleoenviromental Proxy and Its Implications for Archaeofaunal Assemblages

Bibliographic Data

ID12371226
AuthorsD J Rafuse (0000-0003-2825-4857, INCUAPA, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Olavarría Buenos Aires Argentina, corresponding author), C A Kaufmann (0000-0002-3968-3676, CONICET‐INCUAPA, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Olavarría Buenos Aires Argentina), G Flensborg (0000-0002-7418-459X, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires), G A Flensborg (CONICET‐INCUAPA, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Olavarría Buenos Aires Argentina)
Year2011
Volume23
Issue3
Pages348-358
Publication date2011-07-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.1256
OpenAlexW1928467059
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited30

This paper provides a detailed analysis of thorn lesions found in lower limb elements of a modern osteological collection of guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ). Four types of lesions were recorded: (1) thorns visible on the bone surface, (2) bony reaction with relief, (3) small negative scars and (4) medium negative scars. The methods used to recognise, record and quantify these lesions are presented. As a result, 35 of the 36 individuals analyzed contained one or more types of lesions. The highest concentrations of lesions were recorded on the anterior view of the metacarpal shafts. All the age ranges were affected by lesions; however, individuals between the ages of 1 and 3 years were the most affected, whereas those between the ages of 0 and 1 year contained the least amount of lesions. To provide examples of how thorn lesions can be identified and used as a paleoenvironmental proxy in the fossil record, we analyzed two archaeological sites from different phytogeographic provinces: Bajo de la Quinta (Monte phytogeographic province) and Calera (Pampa phytogeographic province). Results found that 25% of the elements from the Bajo de la Quinta site contained lesions, whereas none of the elements from the Calera site showed evidence of lesions. When detectable in the fossil record, thorn lesions can provide an indirect approximation of the paleoenvironment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Archaeology · Biology · Fossil Record · Geography · Osteology · Pathology · Proxy (statistics · Scars · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies · Medicine · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · Paleontology