| Title: |
The prey as patch model:
|
| Subtitle: |
optimal handling of resources with diminishing returns |
| Issue: |
J Archaeol Sci 32 (8) |
| Series: |
Journal of Archaeological Science
|
| Volume: |
32
(8)
|
| Page Start/End: |
1147 - 1158 |
| Biblio Note |
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|
| Publication Type: |
Journal
|
| Abstract: |
The authors argue that foraging theory provides archaeology with a set of tools for investigating the constraints that influenced procurement decisions of the past, and that the prey-choice model, which has been used extensively by archaeologists, has limitations given the nature of archaeological data. The paper suggests that the seldom-used Marginal Value Theorem (MVT) is a valuable tool for examining the ecological constraints on foraging decisions and merits further archaeological application. Ethnoarchaeological and experimental cases are presented demonstrating how patch--gains curves can be generated from quantitative data on butchering return rates and handling times. Results indicate that such curves are diminishing return functions. This provides a basis for examining the linkage between processing intensity and resource fluctuation. This model allows archaeologists to address the relationship between attribute-states of faunal remains and predicted optimal post-acquisition decisions. The MVT can be applied to archaeological studies of foraging behaviour and processing intensity as it can be used to estimate the set of environmental constraints in which a given kill was made. This approach may also identify the degree to which certain currencies, such as fat, are optimized at the expense of others, such as total caloric intake. |
| Year of Publication: |
2005
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
| Faunal Remains (Auto Detected Subject) |
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(The British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography (BIAB))
|
| Relations: |
|
| Created Date: |
29 Jun 2005 |
