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On Distinguishing Natural from Cultural Bone in Archaeological Sites

Bibliographic Data

ID2563079
AuthorsDavid Hurst Thomas (0000-0003-2724-6345, University of California System, corresponding author)
Year1971
Volume36
Issue3
Pages366-371
Publication date1971-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Antiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7316 • E-ISSN: 2325-5064
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/277722
OpenAlexW2057641077
LanguageEN
Citations received43
References cited9

A quantitative method is presented which assists the archaeologist in distinguishing between bones resulting from human activity and those deposited in archaeological contexts by non-cultural means. The assumption is that relatively incomplete carcasses are more likely to have been deposited or disturbed by extra-corporeal activities such as carnivores, raptorial birds, rodents, stream action, or man. This method is illustrated on faunal data from 3 sites in the High Rock county of extreme northwestern Nevada

Action (physics) · Archaeology · Biology · Geography · Human bone · Natural (archaeology) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

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Unique citing works43
Citations per year0,81
Citation span1973 - 2025 (53)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 39
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