Comparative study of bone assemblages made by recent and Pleistocene Hyenids.

The main goal of this study is to establish the characteristics of bone assemblages accumulated by hyenids, essentially fossil spotted cave-hyenas, found in many karsts from the European Pleistocene. A comparative approach is utilized which includes modern and fossil African hyenid accumulations. Most of the criteria used are discussed and methodological problems are noted. Preliminary results concerning the age structure of hyenid populations as well as the size of their prey are given.