Dhole (cuon alpinus) as a bone accumulator and new taphonomy agent?: the case of Noisetier cave ( French Pyrenees)

摘要: Noisetier Cave (French Pyrenees) has yielded Mousterian artefacts associated with numerous faunal remains. The spectrum is dominated by chamois and ibex followed red deer bovids. A previous taphonomic analysis underlined the occurrence of two distinct types bone accumulations. deer, bovid a part remains have been accumulated Neanderthal. We suspected that bearded vultures were responsible for some study carnivore illustrated abundance teeth to lesser extent bones attributed both young adult Cuon alpinus individuals. identification shed milk demonstrates this used cave as nursery den. According several authors dholes never bring back carcasses their dens in order protect offspring from other carnivores. However they tend select an area inside den defecate. analysed modern scats wolf constitute referential. Our results strongly suggest most digested come dhole scats. This can be considered, Binford previously suggested, accumulator consequently new agent. Given sites where fossil identified we argue could biased composition spectrums maybe our understanding on human subsistence.