Journal of Archaeological Science 1987,14,325-337 The Eastern Wood Rat (Neotomafloridana) as a Taphonomic Factor in Archaeological Sites Rob Hoffman0 and Christopher Haysb (Manuscript accepted 23 September 1986) Bones from six animal taxa were experimentally introduced into an active wood rat denning site in a rock shelter on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. After 6 months, patterns were examined relative to taxonomy, element selection, weight selec- tion, rapidity and distance of bone movement, and gnawing. These analyses demon- strate that wood rats can affect significant changes in the character of an archaeofaunal assemblage through their compulsive acquisitive tendencies.The presenceofwood rats in enclosed sites may result in a complex and confusing array of conditions that zoo- archaeologists will want to recognize before applying basic quantitative techniques to a related fauna1 assemblage. Keywords: CUMBERLAND PLATEAU ROCK SHELTER, ZOOARCHAE- OLOGY, WOOD RATS, TAPHONOMY. Introduction Natural enclosures such as caves and rock shelters have long been associated with aboriginal habitation in North America. However, these sites are often exploited by predatory and scavenging animals as well (Parmalee, 1985). This paper represents a forma1 inquiry on the effects of one such animal, the eastern wood rat (Neotoma$oriduna), on bone materials in a rock shelter situation. Included are the results of an experiment conducted with denning wood rats from a site on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. In this study, patterns in selection, dislocation, and gnawing of animal bones are examined in order to evaluate the potential contribution of wood rats to patterning in the archaeological record. Rugby Rock Shelter-A Wood Rat Denning Site The idea of studying bone modification among wood rats was first prompted during the 1982 field season of the Big South Fork Archaeological Project. This project involved reconnaissance survey and testing of numerous rock shelters in the direct and indirect impact areas of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area of the Cumberland Plateau (Ferguson et al., 1982). During the spring of 1982, a large “Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, U.S.A. bDepartment of Anthropology, SUNY-Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13901, U.S.A. 325 0305~4403/87/030325 + 13 %03.00/O 0 1987 Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited