Criteria to secure the anthropic origin of archaeological bird bone collections are of crucial importance when adressing the question of past human interests in birds, given the large number of non-human agents and post-depositional processes which can be responsible for the accumulation and the modification of bird remains in caves. The taphonomy of bird remains is still largely unexplored. A major part of this study consisted in establishing a methodology that would allow a reconstruction of the history of the studied bones. This methodology is based on data available from the literature on ethology, on large and small faunal taphonomy, and on first-hand analysis of present and palaeontological reference collections. Six criteria were established and then systematicaly evaluated for their discriminating potential in recontructing the taphonomic history of the bird bone assemblages. It is argued that only the combination of several criteria are able to counter the problem of equifinality. This approach has been applied to three french archaeological collections: Bois Ragot (Vienne, Magdalenian), Combe Saunière (Dordogne, Solutrean), and La Vache (Ariège, Magdalenian). The species for which the anthropic origin was attested, were consequently undergoing zooarchaeological analysis. At Bois Ragot the Snowy Owl was the dominant species exploited for meat and raw material (bone and probably feathers). At the Combe Saunière, only cleaned Snowy Owl ulna and radius were brought in the site. At La Vache, Grouse and Alpine Chough were eaten in a relatively elaborate way. Inter-site comparison reveals that for the same species, synchronic et diachronic differences exist in the exploitation modes. Future research may shed light on the cultural implication of these practices.
