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Frequencies of Spiral and Green-Bone Fractures on Ungulate Limb Bones in Modern Surface Assemblages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Gary Haynes
Gary Haynes*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560
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Abstract

During observational fieldwork in undisturbed ranges of free-roaming bison and moose, I have identified approximately 8% of surface bones as spirally or green-fractured due to documented carnivore activity, and 5% as spirally or green-fractured due to trampling or dust wallowing by bison. The bones of smaller species suffer up to 50% breakage. Bone modifications by wild wolves and bears are briefly described, as are characteristics of fractures caused by trampling and wallowing.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 48 , Issue 1 , January 1983 , pp. 102 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1983

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References

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