Dissertation Research: Analysis of Olduvai Faunal Remains

在亨利·邦恩博士的指导下，詹姆斯·奥利弗先生将分析考古材料，为他的博士论文收集数据。他将重点关注位于坦桑尼亚奥杜瓦伊峡谷的民阵遗址的动物遗骸。他将检查骨折的模式，特别是边缘形状和构象的细节，并在此基础上试图确定原因。为了帮助这项分析，他将分析食肉动物折断的骨头，还将检查用石器折断的骨头的骨折确认。通过对考古材料和对照样本的比较，他应该能够确定每个机构在形成Flk组合方面所起的相对作用。Olduvai Flk遗址可以追溯到大约170万年前，其中包含的考古材料为早期人类行为提供了一些最早的证据。在考古学上，这些化石材料一直是考古学上激烈分歧的主题。一些研究人员认为，这些遗骸是由早期原始人带到遗址的，被他们打破，代表了狩猎、屠宰和消费的结果。其他人则认为，这些骨头是食肉动物捕杀的结果，只是偶然与石器有关。奥利弗的研究应该有助于解决这个问题。这个项目之所以重要，有几个原因。首先，它将为早期原始人的文化适应提供洞察。其次，它将有助于开发可应用于许多考古遗址的通用方法。最后，它将有助于培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the guidance of Dr. Henry Bunn, Mr. James Oliver will analyze archaeological materials to collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will focus on faunal remains from the FLK site which is located in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. He will examine patterns of bone fracture, looking especially at details of edge shape and conformation and, on this basis, attempt to determine causation. To aid in this analysis, he will analyze bone broken by carnivores and will also examine fracture confirmations of bone broken with lithic tools. Through comparison of archaeological material with control samples, he should be able to determine the relative roles which each agency played in shaping the FLK assemblage. The Olduvai FLK site dates to approximately 1.7 million years ago, and the archaeological materials it contains provide some of the first evidence on early human behavior. The faunal materials from sites such as FLK have been the subject of intense archaeological disagreement. Some researchers argue that these remains were brought to the site by early hominids, were broken open by them, and represent the results of hunting, butchering, and consumption. Others argue that the bones result from carnivore kills and are only associated by chance with stone tools. Mr. Oliver's research should help to resolve this question. This project is important for several reasons. First, it will provide insight into the cultural adaptations of early hominids. Secondly, it will help to develop general methods which can be applied to many archaeological sites. Finally, it will assist in the training of a promising young scientist.