Do Digestive Processes Leave Diagnostic Traces on Fish Bones?

This study examines the extent to which fish remains are affected by digestive processes and includes experimental and comparative analysis of tui chub (Cyprinidae:Gila bicolor) fish remains from modern human feeding experiments, modern coyote scats and archaeological human coprolites. Body part representation varies across the samples, but overall, bone loss resulting from digestive process is less than that documented for fish remains in previous studies. Selected elements are examined for surface modifications (pitting, rounding, adhering tissue, staining, deformation) and degree of completeness. Results show that digestive processes often modify specimens, but that many remains are unaffected. Remains that pass through human and coyote digestive tracts are similarly modified, thus distinguishing fish remains generated by the two agents is not possible using the attributes described. A sample of fish remains from western Nevada is examined for surface modification and specimen completeness to determine whether the fish remains were modified by digestive agents. Results show that at least some of the fish fauna had been ingested by mammals.