CANNIBALISM IN BRITAIN: TAPHONOMY OF FAUNAL AND HUMAN REMAINS FROM GOUGH'S CAVE 



71 



Fig. 9 The Gough's Cave excavation showing some of the human ribs in individual 2 being excavated beneath the overhang of the side wall. 



Anatomical elements: Cranial 



Mandibles: There are three adult human mandibles in the collec- 

 tion, counted as six hemi-mandibles, 1 2 specimens of equids. and 9 of 

 cervid. All the mandibles are heavily damaged. The equid mandibles 

 consist either of symphysis (50%) or alveolar fragments (50%) with 

 no inferior border or ascending ramus. Most mandibles have some of 

 the premolars and molars in situ. Cervid mandibles show a similarly 

 highly destructive pattern, with broken fragments consisting only of 

 portions of alveolus with no inferior border or ascending ramus. The 

 only exception to this pattern is shown in Fig. 19, where a cervid 

 mandible is shown with a dental series and diastema complete to the 

 symphysis. Most mandibles of cervid (56%), but also some horses 

 (33%), show percussion marks on the lingual side, some of them with 

 massive damage (Fig. 1 9B ). Also common are cut-marks on the buccal 

 side (Fig. 19A). Such strength applied to the mandible has produced 

 severe damage, not only to the mandible, but also to most of the teeth, 

 which are seriously crushed (Fig. 1 9B ). It is further peculiar that three 

 of the cervid mandibles and one of the horse mandibles have a 

 triangular shaped percussion mark (Fig. 19B), also seen on a distal 

 metapodial of cervid (M49832). The triangular percussion mark is 

 quite deep, suggesting a forceful stroke. 



Human mandibles are also heavily damaged in a similar way, 

 although they have no percussion marks. A complete human mandi- 

 ble (M54137b) has both ascending rami broken. The right 

 hemi-mandible has extensive peeling on the ascending ramus, possi- 

 bly related to breakage of the articular condyle, and slight breakage 

 is seen along the inferior border close to the mandibular angle (lower 



angle of the mandible). The left hemi-mandible has the ascending 

 ramus broken in the region of the temporal muscle insertion, (coro- 

 noid process) and the articular condyle. Another hemi-mandible 

 shows deep incisions at the ascending ramus (Fig. 20A) probably 

 inflicted as a result of masseter muscle removal. 



A third human mandible (M54130a) shows extensive cuts on the 

 lingual surface of the body (along the linea mylohyoidea) and also on 

 the buccal side, and there are percussion marks on the buccal side as 

 well. The left ascending ramus is broken at the articular condyle and 

 the right ascending ramus is missing. The inferior border on both 

 sides of the mandible is broken, and peeling is evident on the left side 

 along the fracture edge. Cuts are also present on the symphysis on the 

 lingual side (fossa digastrica and spina mentalis) (Fig. 20B). It is 

 remarkable that one horse symphysis also shows cuts on the inner 

 margin of the symphysis (Fig. 20C) similar to that seen on humans. 

 This evidence is reinforced by the recovery of the hyoid of a horse 

 that has percussion marks and is extensively cut. 



Trampling is evident on equid and cervid mandibles. Weathering 

 has been detected on three mandibles (two of horses and one of deer) 

 at stage 1 and 2/3 on one of the horses. Manganese covers four of the 

 deer and horse mandibles, with the three deer mandibles are heavily 

 stained. 



Summary of hemi-mandibles. Total 27 specimens: 6 human, 12 



equid, 9 cervid 



Cut-marks: 6 specimens (4 human, 3 equid, 2 cervid) 



Percussion: 13 specimens (9 equid, 4 cervid) 



Adhered flakes: 1 specimen (1 cervid) 



Peeling: 5 specimens (1 human, 3equid, 1 cervid) 



