Human exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone Age
Abstract Within the animal kingdom, carnivores occupied a unique place in prehistoric societies. At times predators or competitors for resources and shelters, anthropogenic traces of their exploitation, often for non-nutritional purposes, permeate the archaeological record. Scarce but spectacular de...
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doaj-09724f9c4dbf4dfaacf220611df0832c2021-04-18T11:40:33ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222020-04-0110111210.1038/s41598-020-63250-xHuman exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone AgeAurore Val0Guillaume Porraz1Pierre-Jean Texier2John W. Fisher3John Parkington4Abteilung für Ältere Urgeschichte und Quartärökologie Department, Universität TübingenEvolutionary Studies Institute, Palaeosciences Building, Private Bag 3Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, LAMPEA UMR 7269Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Montana State UniversityDepartment of Archaeology, University of Cape TownAbstract Within the animal kingdom, carnivores occupied a unique place in prehistoric societies. At times predators or competitors for resources and shelters, anthropogenic traces of their exploitation, often for non-nutritional purposes, permeate the archaeological record. Scarce but spectacular depictions in Palaeolithic art confirm peoples’ fascination with carnivores. In contrast with the European record, research on hominin/carnivore interactions in Africa has primarily revolved around the hunting or scavenging debate amongst early hominins. As such, the available information on the role of carnivores in Anatomically Modern Humans’ economic and cultural systems is limited. Here, we illustrate a particular relationship between humans and carnivores during the MIS5-4 Still Bay and Howiesons Poort techno-complexes at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, South Africa. The recovery of numerous felid remains, including cut-marked phalanges, tarsals and metapodials, constitutes direct evidence for carnivore skinning and, presumably, pelt use in the southern African Middle Stone Age. Carnivore exploitation at the site seems to have focused specifically on nocturnal, solitary and dangerous felines. The lines of evidence presented here suggest the capture and fur use of those felines in the context of highly codified and symbolically loaded cultural traditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63250-x |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Aurore Val Guillaume Porraz Pierre-Jean Texier John W. Fisher John Parkington |
spellingShingle |
Aurore Val Guillaume Porraz Pierre-Jean Texier John W. Fisher John Parkington Human exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone Age Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Aurore Val Guillaume Porraz Pierre-Jean Texier John W. Fisher John Parkington |
author_sort |
Aurore Val |
title |
Human exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone Age |
title_short |
Human exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone Age |
title_full |
Human exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone Age |
title_fullStr |
Human exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone Age |
title_full_unstemmed |
Human exploitation of nocturnal felines at Diepkloof Rock Shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the Middle Stone Age |
title_sort |
human exploitation of nocturnal felines at diepkloof rock shelter provides further evidence for symbolic behaviours during the middle stone age |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2020-04-01 |
description |
Abstract Within the animal kingdom, carnivores occupied a unique place in prehistoric societies. At times predators or competitors for resources and shelters, anthropogenic traces of their exploitation, often for non-nutritional purposes, permeate the archaeological record. Scarce but spectacular depictions in Palaeolithic art confirm peoples’ fascination with carnivores. In contrast with the European record, research on hominin/carnivore interactions in Africa has primarily revolved around the hunting or scavenging debate amongst early hominins. As such, the available information on the role of carnivores in Anatomically Modern Humans’ economic and cultural systems is limited. Here, we illustrate a particular relationship between humans and carnivores during the MIS5-4 Still Bay and Howiesons Poort techno-complexes at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, South Africa. The recovery of numerous felid remains, including cut-marked phalanges, tarsals and metapodials, constitutes direct evidence for carnivore skinning and, presumably, pelt use in the southern African Middle Stone Age. Carnivore exploitation at the site seems to have focused specifically on nocturnal, solitary and dangerous felines. The lines of evidence presented here suggest the capture and fur use of those felines in the context of highly codified and symbolically loaded cultural traditions. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63250-x |
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