Characterizing the Lower Paleolithic bone industry from Schöningen 12 II: A multi-proxy study.

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Archaeology
• Zooarchaeology

Background:

• Open-air Paleolithic sites often have poor faunal preservation, complicating hominin/animal relationship studies.
• Schöningen's Lower Paleolithic sites offer exceptionally preserved mammalian faunal material.
• Distinguishing hominin-modified bone artifacts from natural modifications (eco-facts) in ancient contexts is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use and modification of bone for technological purposes by late Middle Pleistocene hominins at Schöningen 12 II.
• To identify the processes and agents responsible for bone assemblage formation and modification.
• To expand the understanding of the organic technological repertoire in the Middle Pleistocene.

Main Methods:

• Multi-proxy study combining geoarchaeology, bone taphonomy, zooarchaeology, and use-wear analysis.
• Analysis of osseous finds resembling tools from MIS 9 deposits.
• Comparative analysis to distinguish anthropogenic modifications from non-anthropogenic agents.

Main Results:

• Identification of various bone types likely used as tools by Middle Pleistocene hominins.
• Evidence suggests a more diverse organic technological repertoire than previously recognized for this period.
• Schöningen 12 II provides significant new information on early bone technology.

Conclusions:

• Hominins utilized bone for diverse technological purposes much earlier than the Upper Paleolithic.
• The findings suggest that the diversity and importance of Middle Paleolithic osseous technology may have been underestimated.
• Schöningen's faunal assemblages are crucial for understanding archaic hominin behavior and technological innovation.