Birds: a Seasonal Resource

Abstract

Three aspects of bird bones can be used as evidence for seasonality: (1) the presence or absence of bones of seasonal migrants or of resident species most easily or most economically caught in a single season; (2) medullary bone, found in the bones of females at the time of lay; (3) juvenile bones, recognised by elements still not fused or ankylosed, or by porosity of the articular ends. The evidence must be interpreted with care: bones may not be anthropogenic in origin, or they may be from species which could be stored or traded. In interpreting seasonal occupation of the site the bird bone evidence must be used only in conjunction with all other sources of evidence.