Methods of studying cut marks on paleofaunistic remains

The most common and reliable evidence of animal consumption by the ancient humans are anthropogenic modifications on bones. Cut marks are the most suitable category for systematic analysis. Their presence on bones makes it possible to reliably establish the species hunted by the ancient hunters. In addition to determining the objects of hunting, a detailed study of modifications on bones resulting from butchery indicates specific features of using the prey by ancient populations. Although zooarchaeological studies have become increasingly common in Russian scholarly literature, they usually do not provide a detailed analysis of cut marks, but only the fact of their presence. This article overviews and analyses the most important trends and achievements in the literature concerning cut marks from archaeological sites, intending to assess the capacities of methods developed to date. Two independent approaches can be distinguished in research of cuts. First approach focuses on functionality of cut marks according to their location on bones and their inclination, and makes it possible to identify energy use and economic activities of the ancient hunting communities, including the methods for treating meat, skins, and tendons. Second approach focuses on studying the morphometric features of those modifications. The emergence of new technologies enables today’s scholars to obtain high-quality images and high-resolution 3D models, allowing them to reliably determine the structure of the cut, differentiate it from the trace of trampling, and identify the sources, type, and inclination of the tool used in butchering.