Zooarchaeology and taphonomy of FLK North 5

The assemblage from Level 5 of the FLK North locality is particularly interesting because unlike many Bed I sites (except FLK North North Level 1, see Chapter 12), no systematic taphonomic data have been presented for the large mammal subassemblage since Leakey’s (1971) monograph (see Fernández-Jalvo et al., 1998 for a discussion of small mammals). Therefore, and despite the fact that both cut marks and tooth marks have been identified in the large mammal subassemblage (Potts and Shipman, 1981; Shipman, 1983, 1986), the roles of hominids and carnivores in site formation are poorly understood. Although Shipman (1986) identified three cut-marked bovid specimens, this expanded analysis identified only one specimen preserving definitive cut marks and little to no evidence for hominid bonebreaking activities. Therefore, like the other large mammal subassemblages from the FLK North site, Level 5 can securely be attributed almost solely to the activities of carnivores.