Taphonomic approach of Gravettian mortuary practices: Comparative study of Human and Saiga antelope from Buran-Kaya III (Crimea)

Abstract

The topic of this article concerns our last results on comparative taphonomic studies about human and faunal remains from a Gravettian site in Eastern Europe (Buran-Kaya III, Crimea). Indeed, this site which we excavated some years ago, provided a rich collection of archaeological artefacts especially lithic industry, faunal and human remains mainly for Early Upper Palaeolithic period. One the most important discovery on this site is the presence of an important quantity of human fragments with cutmarks on some of them. We developed a comparative taphonomical study between the two main species of the site. We used classical methods as well as new technological supports (SEM, 3D digital video microscopy, CT-Scan), both on human and saiga antelope remains. This paper aims to describe the modifications observed on the human remains and explore the post-mortem treatment of the bodies, including potential nutritional cannibalism and mortuary practices. To test these hypotheses, we conducted a comparative analysis of the skeletal representation, taphonomic modifications and spatial distribution of human and saiga antelope remains. The results suggest a specific mortuary practice associated with secondary disposal or a non-nutritional cannibalism. Such specific practices are very rare in European Upper Palaeolithic contexts, and are only present in a very small number of sites.