Methodological Videography of Bird Butchery: Replicating Early Human Techniques in Experimental Archaeology

This dataset encompasses the presentation of five raw video recordings, wherein Anna Rufà and Mariana Nabais engage in the processing of five bird specimens. These activities are designed to replicate the potential butchery movements executed by early humans. The selected species for this experimental endeavour include Corvus corone (Carrion Crow), Columba palumbus (Wood Pigeon), and Streptopelia decaocto (Collared Dove).
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The avian specimens were obtained from the Wildlife Ecology, Rehabilitation, and Surveillance Centre (CERVAS), affiliated with the ICNF Serra da Estrela Natural Park, situated in Gouveia, Portugal. These specimens succumbed to natural causes within the confines of the rehabilitation centre, were subjected to veterinary examinations, and subsequently preserved through freezing for the purposes of scientific inquiry post-mortem. The specimens were thawed 24 hours in advance of the experimental procedures to ensure their resemblance to their natural, raw state in terms of texture and appearance.
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To elucidate the array of potential dietary practices among early humans, two birds (Birds 1 and 2) were processed in their raw state, while the remaining three (Birds 3, 4, and 5) underwent processing post-roasting.
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Bird 1, a Streptopelia decaocto, was processed in its raw form by Anna Rufà on November 6, 2023. Similarly, Bird 2, a Corvus corone, was also processed in its raw state by Mariana Nabais on the same date. Birds 3 and 4, Streptopelia decaocto and Corvus corone respectively, were roasted prior to processing by Anna Rufà on November 8, 2023. Lastly, Bird 5, a Columba palumbus, was roasted and then processed by Mariana Nabais on November 8, 2023. This methodological approach aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the diverse potential consumption practices of Neanderthals, as reflected through the experimental processing of these avian specimens.
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The provided recordings are unedited and were captured using a Nikon D5300 camera alongside an iPhone 11 and an Android Pixel 4a. These videos serve as a preliminary archival resource, preserving the methodology and specific procedural steps for future scholarly reference and the facilitation of experimental reproducibility.