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The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids

Thesis (PhD (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2006.

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Other Authors: Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
author_browse Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
author_facet Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932-
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © University of Pretor
description Thesis (PhD (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/26890
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:54.079Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/26890 The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids Skinner, J.D. (John Dawson), 1932- Berger, Lee R. kuhnbf@gmail.com Kuhn, Brian F. Signatures Hyaenids Behaviour Collection Taphonomic UCTD Thesis (PhD (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. The collecting behaviour of specific animals is increasingly becoming of interest to a variety of scientific disciplines. Collectors can be found in the rodent and carnivore mammal populations, as well as certain avian species. Of the carnivores it is hyaenids and leopards (Panthera pardus) that appear to be the most prolific collectors of faunal remains. Of the four species in the hyaena family, three are known to collect various quantities of faunal material in their prospective dens; they are spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta), brown hyaenas (Parahyaena brunnea) and striped hyaenas (Hyaena hyaena). The question surrounding the collector of faunal remains in the archaeological record is as important as it is old. This is an in depth examination of the bone collections of all three extant hyaenids and the related taphonomy corresponding to each species. New collections were made from various dens and locations in southern Africa for both Parahyaena and Crocuta. Additionally previous collections of Parahyaena were reanalysed and data from Hyaena collections in Jordan reviewed. In all a total of 23,324 bones and bone fragments were examined during this study, specifically looking at species collected, skeletal elements, minimum number of individuals (MNI), number of identified specimens (NISP), fusion data, fragmentation, weathering and an assortment of taphonomic characteristics. Specific taphonomic characteristics recorded were crenulated edges, striations, punctate depressions and punctures, scouring, acid etching and all combinations thereof. The main thrust of this research is to determine if hyaenids in general can be positively identified from other collectors as the collector of a specific assemblage of faunal remains and to determine if the three species of hyaena can be distinguished from one another by studying the faunal collections alone. Anatomy and Physiology PhD unrestricted 2013-09-07T08:57:34Z 2007-08-01 2013-09-07T08:57:34Z 2007-04-18 2007-08-01 2007-07-31 Thesis Kuhn, BF 2007, The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids, PhD Thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26890> Pretoria http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26890 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07312007-162350/ © University of Pretor application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Signatures
Hyaenids
Behaviour
Collection
Taphonomic
UCTD
The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids
title The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids
title_full The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids
title_fullStr The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids
title_full_unstemmed The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids
title_short The collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids
title_sort collection behaviour and taphonomic signatures of hyaenids
topic Signatures
Hyaenids
Behaviour
Collection
Taphonomic
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26890
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07312007-162350/