Spirally Fractured Bones - Day's Knob Site

33GU218
The bone fragments (apparently deer) shown below appeared about 30 cm (12") beneath the current terrain surface, all in the same area of the site.  Spirally fractured bones are generally considered to be good evidence of human activity, such breakage normally being the result of striking with a hard object (typically a rock). 
 
Spirally Fractured and Carved Bone Fragment - Day's Knob Archaeological Site
Below left:  The above bone fragment, outside surface.  The edge appears to be carved (classic bird image?).  On the surface and beneath old plant growth was a very short length of artificially dyed red plant fiber.  (Artificially dyed fiber identified by Dr. Scott Moody, professor of forensic biology at Ohio University.)  Below right, the object in situ, eroding from the ground.

Carved Bone Fragment With Dyed Plant Fiber - Day's Knob Archaeological Site  Fractured Bone Fragment - Day's Knob Archaeological Site

Below, microscopic close-up of red fiber: 

 

Below, more fractured bone fragments from the same location:

Fractured Bone Fragment - Day's Knob Archaeological Site
 
Fractured Bone Fragment - Day's Knob Archaeological Site
Fractured Bone Fragment - Day's Knob Archaeological Site
 
Fractured Bone Fragment - Day's Knob Archaeological Site
 
Fractured Bone Fragment - Day's Knob Archaeological Site

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