Modified Behrensmeyer Scale and Brimble Pit Swallet (Laura Jayne Sclanders)

Modified Behrensmeyer Scale and Brimble Pit Swallet (Laura Jayne Sclanders)

A depositional history for Brimble Pit Swallet is extrapolated through the thorough investigation in taphonomic differences in the assemblage. The assemblage is small, yet diverse, and was generated from an excavation in the early 1990’s for speleological purposes. Animal bone has been identified as being late Neolithic in date with much later contamination inclusions

There are 1016 identified bones or bone fragments. Remains are very fragmented (fragments are usually less than 10cm long) with the exclusion of the later contaminant. Species present are: Bos Taurus, Bos primigenius, Ovis aries, Capra hircus, Cervus elephus Caprelous capreolus, Canis familiaris, Homo sapien, Lepus, Cygnus, Anura and, Sus scrofa.

A depositional history is formulated through viewing the bones in regards to their colour and condition; as the excavator provided no information regarding the stratigraphic arrangement of the material. Using Behrensmeyer’s 1978 study of taphonomic bone weathering as a framework; a modified scale was created to consign a specific bone weathering code to each of the identified Brimble Pit bones. The Modified Behrensmeyer Scale was used in conjunction with another scale also created specifically for this project, which deals with the colour of a bone.

This scale was a modified and somewhat simplified version of the Munsell hue and value dimensions, and every bone was given a code additional to that of the Modified Behrensmeyer Scale. The colour code relates to the Munsell system in that; the first part of the code (the number) is equivalent to hue in the Munsell system, and the second part of the code (the letter) is equivalent to value in the Munsell system.

The colour scale was used in conjunction with the brightness scale. This ‘brightness’ scale consists of 5 different degrees of brightness; A is the darkest (nearly black) and E is the palest (nearly white). Each bone from the swallet site was, therefore, given a code comprising of three parts (condition, colour, and brightness) so that a thorough analysis of degradation through weathering could take place. This was then used to extrapolate a possible site history.

These codes allow one to identify bones more efficiently and rapidly, as well as eliminating confusion which can occur if only written descriptions are used. The codes created for Brimble Pit Swallet are more specific for cave sites than the 1978 Behrensmeyer scale; and could prove to be useful for use in similar investigations if the modified scale combined with the colour and brightness scale were to be commonly adopted and standardised.

Laura Jayne Sclanders

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