Human Induced Percussion Technology: A Synthesis of Bone Modification as Archaeological Evidence

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Animal bone modification by humans has long been part of the archaeological record; however, debate continues as to whether this evidence alone is sufficient to interpret human activity. This is especially true if such evidence is used in support of archaeological sites older than 16 ka in the Americas. We synthesize data representing over three decades of research including experimental bone breakage and archaeological excavations of proboscidean assemblages. Replicable features of percussion and use wear patterns on bone elements are described along with interpretive methods which demonstrate analogous, concurrent and anomalous patterns that represent human behavior. Geological contexts that rule out alternative causes of percussion breakage are also described. We conclude that bone modification by percussion can be strong evidence of human behavior when interpreted in the light of experimental reference samples, analogous archaeological sites and geological context. The age and geographic location of a site does not invalidate this evidence.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36255.0