Fat Residue and Use-Wear Found on Acheulian Biface and Scraper Associated with Butchered Elephant Remains at the Site of Revadim, Israel

The archaeological record indicates that elephants must have played a significant role in early human diet and culture during Palaeolithic times in the Old World. However, the nature of interactions between early humans and elephants is still under discussion. Elephant remains are found in Palaeolithic sites, both open-air and cave sites, in Europe, Asia, the Levant, and Africa. In some cases elephant and mammoth remains indicate evidence for butchering and marrow extraction performed by humans. Revadim Quarry (Israel) is a Late Acheulian site where elephant remains were found in association with characteristic Lower Palaeolithic flint tools. In this paper we present results regarding the use of Palaeolithic tools in processing animal carcasses and rare identification of fat residue preserved on Lower Palaeolithic tools. Our results shed new light on the use of Palaeolithic stone tools and provide, for the first time, direct evidence (residue) of animal exploitation through the use of an Acheulian biface and a scraper. The association of an elephant rib bearing cut marks with these tools may reinforce the view suggesting the use of Palaeolithic stone tools in the consumption of large game.

考古记录表明，旧大陆（Old World）的旧石器时代（Palaeolithic）时期，大象必然在早期人类的饮食与文化中扮演了重要角色。然而，早期人类与大象之间的互动关系仍存在学术争议。在欧洲、亚洲、黎凡特（Levant）与非洲的旧石器时代遗址（涵盖露天遗址与洞穴遗址）中，均出土有大象遗骸。部分案例中，大象与猛犸象的遗骸可作为人类曾对其实施屠宰并提取骨髓的实证。以色列雷瓦丁采石场（Revadim Quarry）是一处晚阿舍利文化（Late Acheulian）遗址，该遗址出土的大象遗骸与典型的旧石器时代早期（Lower Palaeolithic）燧石工具（flint tools）存在共生关联。本文呈现了旧石器时代工具用于处理动物尸体的相关研究成果，以及本次研究中罕见地在旧石器时代早期工具上鉴定出的脂肪残留痕迹。本研究结果为旧石器时代石器的使用方式提供了新视角，并首次通过阿舍利两面器（Acheulian biface）与刮削器（scraper），获取了人类利用动物资源的直接残留物实证。带有切割痕迹的大象肋骨与这些工具的共生关联，或可进一步支撑“旧石器时代石器被用于猎食大型猎物”的学术观点。