Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) pellets from Roman Sagalassos (SW Turkey): distinguishing the prey remains from nest and roost sites

Two concentrations of animal bones, almost exclusively from small mammals and wild birds, were found within the destruction debris of a Roman bath complex in Sagalassos (SW Turkey). The overall species spectrum, skeletal element representation, fragmentation and preservation condition of the bones indicate that they represent the prey remains of a large nocturnal avian predator, more precisely the eagle owl (Bubo bubo). Differences in skeletal element representation and in prey species' spectrum show that the two bone clusters derive from pellets deposited near a nest site and a roost site, respectively. Radiocarbon dates obtained from the bones indicate that eagle owls lived in the collapsing bath complex during the second half of the 6th to the beginning of the 7th century AD, before the final abandonment of the town. The MNI of the prey animals found at the nest site, confronted with the daily dietary needs of a female eagle owl and its young, indicates repetitive use of the same place during several years. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

关于牛河梁第二地点一号冢墓葬出土玉器的解读——东北古夷玉巫教探析

牛河梁第二地点一号冢分为东西两区,共26墓,其出土玉器分别代表牛河梁猪灵、鸮灵、云灵崇拜的原生玉巫教与黄帝"云纪"、少皞"鸟纪"等众多玉巫教的各支派系的联合体,并未形成统一的、集权的顶级发展阶段的巫教。同时,牛河梁又是东北古夷玉巫教的圣地。     

山东济阳刘台子西周墓的史前遗玉

山东济阳刘台子西周六号墓出土一件玉鹰虎饰,与同墓的玉雕风格迥异,却与龙山-石家河化玉雕风格一致。从玉雕工艺及化交流方面考证此件玉鹰虎饰为史前遗玉。     

Lessons from temporal variation in the mammalian faunas from two collections of owl pellets in Columbia County,Washington

Collections of owl pellets deposited before and after a change in nearby habitats from producing wheat fields only to producing wheat fields and a patchy grass field were obtained from Columbia County, southeastern Washington. Pellets deposited before the change contained more than three times as many deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) as montane vole (Microtus montanus); pellets deposited after the change contained more than three times as many voles (M. montanus, M. longicaudus) as deer mice. The change in the ratio of deer mice to voles mirrors changes in rodent faunas in nearby areas caused by altered agricultural practices and resulting changes in vegetation. Because biologists correctly suggest the change in prey ratios could reflect variation in predation behaviours or prey availability, it is apparent that multiple lines of evidence are necessary to establish that changes in rodent faunas reflect changes in habitats. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The eagle owl (Bubo bubo) as a leporid remains accumulator: taphonomic analysis of modern rabbit remains recovered from nests of this predator

The eagle owl (Bubo bubo) is the main leporid predator among nocturnal raptors. Although its role as an accumulator of leporid remains in archaeological sites has already been demonstrated, the taphonomic signature of this predator has not been properly characterised. Here we present the analysis of two samples of modern leporid remains recovered from eagle owls' nests with the aim of contributing new data to this subject. Results show that although variability occurs, the observed anatomical representation, breakage and digestion patterns allow us to distinguish this raptor from other rabbit predators. Finally, several characteristic features are noted to distinguish eagle owls as agents of leporid bone accumulations in the fossil record. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.