Seasonality and age structure in remains of Rangifer tarandus: Magdalenian hunting strategy at Verberie

Faunal remains at the late Upper Paleolithic campsite at Verberie (Oise) are composed almost exclusively of Rangifer tarandus. Dental remains from this species are inspected for indications of seasonality of death and mortality age profiles. Samples from several successive occupation levels are compared. Seasonality is consistently fall, during the migration. Selection for young adults and for males is indicated. From these data it appears that the hunting strategies of the Magdalenian occupants of the site may have focused on procurement for storage.