Artiodactyls, favourite game of prehistoric hunters at the Caune de l’Arago Cave (Tautavel, France). Opportunistic or selective hunting strategies?

An archaeological study of the artiodactyls was carried out in the richest layers of the Caune de l’Arago Cave in France, namely levels L, J, G (upper) and F. The fauna of these levels is dominated by the reindeer, the Cervini (red deer and fallow deer), the musk ox and the argali, respectively. Selective hunting, among other factors, can be responsible for the relative abundance of some population categories, such as males or females, young or adults, but other factors can also be responsible. We used the eco-ethological information obtained by studying present-day wild herds to determine the structure (age and sex) of a theoretical population for a specified season. The season of hunting is estimated through the study of tooth eruption, and this season is shown to have a severe impact on the composition of the studied animal populations. By comparing the theoretical population obtained for the selected season with our results on fossil materials, we demonstrate that there is no selection by hunters on the site.