Avian wings as ornaments in the Magdalenian?

Abstract

A collection of cut marks on Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) bones from the Magdalenian site of Tossal de la Roca (Spanish Levant region) is presented. The functional study undertaken aimed at revealing the purpose with which these cut marks were made. The analyses revealed which particular muscles of the avian body were affected by each cut. The data suggest that the purpose of most, if not all, of the cut marks was to detach the wings, while the animals were still fresh, from the body. It is argued that such procedure aimed at preventing deterioration of wings so that these could be used as ornaments.