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Taphonomic Agents and Taphonomic Signatures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

R. Lee Lyman
R. Lee Lyman*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
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Abstract

Erlandson and Moss (2001) indicate one step to deciphering the taphonomic history of a deposit comprising numerous remains of aquatic organisms involves building a list of the nonhuman local carnivores. Such lists indicate potential, not actual, taphonomic agents, and the list they provide does not include one of the more significant potential accumulators of aquatic faunal remains—pinnipeds. Nor do they discuss the critical second step of taphonomic analysis that involves the writing of taphonomic histories based on signature criteria manifest as modifications to faunal remains.

Résumé

Résumé

Erlandson y Moss (2001) indican que un paso para descifrar la historia tafonómica (procesos de desgastamiento del cuerpo del animal muerto) de un depósito que contiene restos de numerosos organismos acuáticos, debe incluir la elaboración de carnívoros locales no humanos. Sin embargo, esta lista no incluye uno de los más importantes acumuladores de restos de animales acuáticos—los pinípedos. Tampoco discuten el muy importante segundo paso de análisis tafonómico, el cual incluye la construcción de las historias tafonómicas basadas sobre las manifestaciones de las características específicas que indican las modificaciones por las cuales han pasado los restos faunales.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 67 , Issue 2 , April 2002 , pp. 361 - 365
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2002

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