Investigation on surface modifications of fossil fauna remains from Makuyuni, Arusha region Tanzania

This study presents analysis of fossil fauna remains from a Middle Pleistocene Paleoanthropological of Makuyuni site 4 at Makuyuni village in Arusha region, northern Tanzania. Drawing on the large body of taphonomic, ethnoarchaeological and general zooarchaeological literature currently available, the main goal of this dissertation was investigation of surface modifications of fossil faunal remains from Makuyuni site 4. The study was anticipated to extend available comprehensive taphonomic accounts on fauna remains so as to establish agents of fossil fauna accumulators, modifications, and identification of prey and non-prey species as well as to reconstruct subsistence strategies of early hominids. Through examination of species abundance, various bone surface modifications, and several aspects of skeletal part representation, it was established that early humans, carnivores and fluvial action were responsible for fossil fauna accumulation. Prey animal size 3 carcasses seemed to dominate the assemblage. The presence of stone tools in the studied assemblage confirms the observed stone tool marks on two specimens from this study. Furthermore, the evidence of stone tool marks on fossil fauna specimens implied that early hominids subsisted on meat obtained through scavenging and/or hunting from carnivore kill left over. This study recommended further the need for specialists from fields like archaeology to conduct a comprehensive lithic analysis, sedimentologists, paleobotanists, fish specialists and paleontologists who will do a follow up of this and previous works from Makuyuni site 4.