Integrated taponomic analysis of macroremains in carnivore scats.

MARIANA MONDINI; PABLO G. PEROVIC; RODRÍGUEZ, MARÍA FERNANDA

México, D.F. (México)

Congreso; International Council for Archaeozology, 10th Conference.; 2006

This poster presents information on an actualistic taphonomic study of carnivore dens, mainly foxes, in the Andean Puna of NW Argentina. It deals with an integrated analysis of the macroremains contained in scats, the differential effects of digestion on them, the ecological information they provide, and their potential as indicators of these taphonomic processes in the archaeological record. Bones, hair and plant remains were analysed. Bones are mostly from small animals and they bear relatively light digestive corrosion, although they are heavily fragmented. Hair is unaffected by digestion, and can be preserved more easily in the fossil record. It has helped identify prey taxa and the predators themselves. Plant remains mainly derive from grasses and are barely affected by digestion. Unlike other areas, no remains of fleshy fruits were found. We believe that an integrated analysis of the remains contained in scats, not just the bones, can in turn help archaeologists elicit more complete taphonomic and palaeoecological information from the fossil record.