于家沟遗址鸵鸟蛋皮的人类利用特征

鸵鸟蛋皮是中国北方旧石器时代遗址中最常见的鸟类遗存。目前,限于蛋皮的样本量与保存状况,很少有研讨古人类是否能够食用鸵鸟蛋液或者利用鸵鸟蛋作为盛煮容器问题。本文以于家沟遗址第3b和4层出土的鸵鸟蛋皮为材料,从其 ¹⁴C年代、孵化状况、燃烧导致的颜色变化等方面,分析了古人类获取、消费和利用鸵鸟蛋的方式。结果显示,于家沟人既采集了鸵鸟蛋皮作为制作装饰品的原料,也可能获取了完整鸵鸟蛋,食其蛋液,用其蛋壳,并将整蛋作为容器进行了加热。

Human use of ostrich eggshells at the Yujiagou site,Nihewan Basin

Ostrich eggshells(OES) are the most common avian remains from Paleolithic sites in North China. They were used to manufacture the beads, and also, they were one of the most important dating samples of AMS- ¹⁴C technique for Upper Paleolithic sites in North China. However, at present, limited to the sample size and preservation status of OES remains, few studies have be carried out to discuss if ancient humans could consume the ostrich eggs or use relatively complete OES as the container. In this study, we present the AMS- ¹⁴C dating results, information of hatching and burnt levels of OES from Layers 3b and 4 of the Yujiagou site, Nihewan Basin. Based on the unhatched burnt OES, which were dated consistently with other animal remains, the strategies of obtaining and processing the ostrich eggs are discussed. It indicates that the human from Yujiagou not only collected the OES fragments to manufacture ornaments, but also gathered the eggs for food and might use the eggshells as heating containers.