Are there marrow cavities in Pleistocene elephant limb bones, and was marrow available to early humans? New CT scan results from the site of Castel di Guido (Italy). (1st July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boschian, Giovanni; Caramella, Davide; Saccà, Daniela; Barkai, Ran
• Is Part Of: Quaternary science reviews. Volume 215(2019)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2019-07-01
• Subjects: Pleistocene -- Italy -- Palaeoloxodon antiquus -- Limb bones -- CT-Scan -- Marrow cavities -- Lower Palaeolithic -- Marrow consumption; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.05.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3791

Abstract

Abstract: CT-scan analyses were carried out on limb bones of straight-tusked elephants ( Palaeoloxodon antiquus ) from the Middle Pleistocene site of Castel di Guido (Italy), where bifaces made of elephant bone were found in association with lithics and a large number of intentionally modified bone remains of elephants and other taxa. CT-scans show that marrow cavities are present within the limb bones of this taxon. Though rather small compared to the size of the bones, these cavities suggest that bone raw material procurement may not have been the unique goal of intentional elephant bone fracturing, and the marrow may also have been extracted for consumption. Highlights: Elephant meat/fat consumed by Pleistocene Hominins worldwide, bones intentionally fractured. Elephant bone tools (bifaces) relatively common, so fracturing necessary. Was bone fractured for extracting marrow or fashioning tools, or for both purposes? Literature reports no medullary cavity in extant/extinct elephant bones, so no marrow. CT-scans reveal cavities, though small, hence both options possible.