Meat on the menu: GIS spatial distribution analysis of bone surface damage indicates that Oldowan hominins at Kanjera South, Kenya had early access to carcasses

The shift to increased meat consumption is one of the major adaptive changes in hominin dietary evolution. Although eating by Oldowan hominins well evidenced at Pleistocene archaeological sites eastern Africa butchery marks on bones, methods through which carcasses were acquired (i.e., hunting vs. scavenging) and extent their completeness (fleshed defleshed) less certain. This study addresses these issues a geographic information systems (GIS) comparative analysis bone modification patterns created carnivores observed ca. 2.0 Ma assemblage from Kanjera South, Kenya those several modern, experimentally modified assemblages. Comparison GIS-generated models shows that pattern preservation South similar found experimental assemblages first butchered hammerstone fractured humans, subsequently scavenged carnivores. distribution modifications fauna also suggests had early access small bovids. Butchery appear almost exclusively ‘hot zones’—areas where flesh does not typically survive lion consumption—further suggesting scavenging carnivore kills. Our findings support previous claims offers earliest clear evidence repeated antelope Early Stone Age (Oldowan) perhaps for hunting. damage frequencies are lower than reported slightly younger site FLK Zinj (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania), differing competitive regimes two sites.