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Immunological Identification of Small-Mammal Proteins on Aboriginal Milling Equipment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Robert M. Yohe II
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
Margaret E. Newman
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
Joan S. Schneider
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521

Abstract

Ethnographic accounts of animal pulverization using stone grinding implements have led archaeologists to believe that this same behavior took place in the past. This important subsistence activity can now be confirmed through the immunological analysis of archaeological materials. Small-mammal blood-protein residue has been identified immunologically for the first time on milling equipment from two archaeological sites in southern California. Immunoprotein trace analysis has the potential for a wide range of applications in the study of prehistory.

Résumé

Résumé

Informes etnográficos sobre la pulverización de animales utilizando instrumentos de piedra para moler, ha llevado a arqueólogos a la conclusión de que este mismo tipo de comportamiento tuvo lugar en el pasado. Esta importante actividad de subsistencia ahora puede ser confirmada a través del análisis inmunológico de materiales arqueológicos. Por primera vez se ha identificado inmunológicamente el residuo de la proteína sanguínea de pequeños mamíferos en el equipo de molienda de dos sitios arqueológicos del sur de California. El análisis de inmunoproteínas tiene potencial para un amplio rango de aplicaciones en el estudio de la prehistoria.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1991

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