76 



P. ANDREWS AND Y. FERNANDEZ-JALVO 





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Fig. 20 A, Human mandible (GC'87) showing deep incisions on the ascending ramus as a result of dismemberment of the mandible probably inflicted as a 

 result of masseter muscle removal. B, Detail of cut-marks on human mandible M54 1 30a. The cuts are on the mandibular symphysis on the lingual side 

 along the internal ridge, at the insertion of the digastric muscle. C, Mandible of Equus ferus M49848. Cut-marks are on the mandibular symphysis on the 

 lingual side, and on the lingual border of the mandibular body close to the alveolar margin and on the lingual border of the diastema. A, x 2; B, x 3; C, x 

 1.2. 



(USA, Turner and Turner, 1999; White, 1992), Navatu (Fiji Islands, 

 Degusta, 1999). At all these sites, damage to the human skulls is great 

 and it is interpreted as the result of gaining access to the brain. The 

 only other cannibalistic site where human skulls are relatively com- 

 plete is at Fontbregoua (French Neolithic) where Villa et al. 

 ( 1986a&b) interpreted it as an element of skull ritual treatment. We 

 agree with this interpretation in relation to the Gough's Cave material 

 because completeness of skulls, even where they have been damaged 

 by percussion and intensive cutting, is an exception to the general 

 pattern of the Gough's Cave assemblage. Animal skulls are notable 

 for their absence, and most other skeletal elements, with the excep- 

 tion of the limb extremities and some of the human ribs, are all 

 broken. The human skulls stand out as the most intact groups of 

 bones that by their nature are relatively easily broken by post- 

 depositional processes. 



The jaws in particular have been heavily broken and cut. Most 

 large mammal jaws recovered from the site consist of alveolar 

 fragments, with or without teeth. Teeth are damaged by crushing, 

 especially in cervids, but also in humans. There is a peculiar butch- 



ering technique observed on these specimens consisting of intensive 

 cutting on the buccal side, and strong percussion marks on the 

 lingual side. These suggest dismemberment of the mandible and 

 cutting of the muscles of mastication and the lip depressors. Cut- 

 marks lingually, particularly on the symphysis in the digastric area 

 on both equids and humans, indicate removal of the tongue. Cut- 

 marks have also been found on the enamel of horse upper molars on 

 the buccal side. These cuts have also been observed at other sites 

 such as Abric Romani (-40,000 BR Barcelona, Spain), and here they 

 have been interpreted as cutting of facial muscle attachments to 

 extract the cheek. 



Damage is also seen on human jaws with breakage of zygomatic 

 arches on the upper jaws, and inferior borders and ascending ramii of 

 mandibles. Similar destruction of human remains also appears at 

 Native American sites (White, 1992; Turner and Turner, 1999), 

 Fontbregoua (Villa et al, 1986 a, b) and especially at TD6-Aurora 

 Stratum (Fernandez- Jalvo et al., 1999), where no complete cranial 

 element (skull vault, mandible or maxilla) has yet been found. Some 

 authors have considered that this degree of intensive damage of faces 



