Taphonomic signature of the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) on the avian accumulation of Cau del Duc (Lleida, Spain)

Abstract

The study of small prey has been the focus of interest during the past few decades, especially due to its implications for the subsistence and cultural behaviours of human populations. In this regard, a growing body of evidence has shed light on the human exploitation of small prey, including birds. Nevertheless, small animal accumulations are not always a result of anthropogenic inputs, as they are important prey for many other predators (e.g. mammalian carnivores and birds of prey). As a consequence, establishing the taphonomic pattern of each predator is a basic step towards determining the origin of faunal accumulations, and actualistic studies provide essential information in that respect. The present work aims to characterise the avian accumulations generated by the Eurasian eagle-owl for its subsequent application to the archaeological record. To this end, a modern avian accumulation from the small cave of Cau del Duc (Lleida, Spain) was analysed following a taphonomic approach. Our results show specific characteristics fitting with the previous studies carried out on Eurasian-eagle-owl-made bone accumulations, as well as some inputs of mammalian carnivores indicating secondary actions in the faunal assemblage.