Patterns of Faunal Processing at Section 27 of Pincevent: The Use of Spatial Analysis and Ethnoarchaeological Data in the Interpretation of Archaeological Site Structure

The late Upper Paleolithic site of Pincevent exhibits extraordinary preservation not only of artifacts, bones, and features but also of their spatial distributions and the relationships among artifacts and features. Section 27 is a residential habitation unit, consisting of a large principal hearth which serves as a focal point for the organization of artifactual and faunal debris. A variety of mathematically based pattern recognition studies are applied to the distribution of faunal remains and are used in conjunction with ethnoarchaeological data for the interpretation of spatial patterning and site structure. These results yield information relevant to specific activities and overall site function.