Bone Modification Patterns Produced By Two South American Small Sized Carnivores

MARÍA A. GUTIÉRREZ; DANIEL RAFUSE; AGUSTINA MASSIGOGE; MARÍA CLARA ALVAREZ; CRISTIAN KAUFMANN

Memphis

Congreso; 77th Annual Meeting, Society for American Archaeology; 2012

Society for American Archaeology

In this presentation we analyze bone modifications (skeletal representation, breakage, and tooth marks) produced by two native carnivores from the Pampas of South America: Pampean fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and geoffroy?s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi). The main objective is to identify the modification patterns characteristic of these two species. Both carnivores were fed with rabbits and the non ingested bones were analyzed. Skeletal representation, as well as size, morphology, and location of the tooth marks were registered and compared using digital images and GIS. Our results will contribute to distinguish carnivore induced bone modifications from other formation processes.