3.986 - Introduction to Archaeology - Hypothetical models for early archaeological site formation
1 Hydraulic Jumble
2 Common Amenity (e.g. Shade Tree)
Used independently
by carnivores
3 Carnivore Accumulations used by Hominids
and by hominids
4 Scavenging Opportunities
Where animals
were killed...
or died
Figures by MIT OCW.
3.986 - Introduction to Archaeology - Hypothetical models for early archaeological site formation
5 Central Place Foraging
6 Stone-cache Model
“Home Base” model
Stone prepositioned
for future use
8 Opportunistic Use During Foraging
7 “Nesting/Nutting Areas” - a la chimps
Regular short visits to and reuse of
same locality over time
Figures by MIT OCW.
3.986 - Introduction to Archaeology - Hypothetical models for early archaeological site formation
References:
Models 1-5 after Isaac, G. 1983. Bones in contention: competing explanations for the juxtaposition
of early Pleistocene artifacts and faunal remains. In Animals and Archeology: 1. Hunters and their
prey (ed. J. Clutton-Brock and C. Grigson. BAR International Series 163. Pp. 1-19.
Model 6: After Potts, R. Home bases and early hominids. American Scientist 72:338-347.
Model 7: after Sept, J. 1992, Was there no place like home? Current Anthropology 33(2):187-207
and also see Mercader, J. et al 2007, 4,300-Year-old chimpanzee sites. Proceeding of the National
Academy of Sciences 104-3043-3048.