Gathering archaeological data

Question 1

Ritz & Wing (2008):
Archaeozoological data and species composition (7)

Answer 1

Published assemblage (Differs due to interest)
Identified assemblage (Different priority)
Excavated assemblage (Different methods of excavations)
Taphonomic processes (Processes that influence the quality)
Deposited assemblage (What remains are deposited)
Death assemblage (Mortality at that time and that place)
Life assemblage (State as it used to be)

Question 2

Pre-depositional processes

Answer 2

1. catch techniques applied
2. Pre-settlement return discarding
3. Pre-settlement return treatment
4. Preparation and consumption
5. Waste removal

Question 3

5 categories of zooarchaeological remains

Answer 3

1. slaughter and consumption waste
2. Industrial waste
3. non-consumed domestic animals
4. Commensals ans intrusions
5. Remains of ritual activities

Question 4

post-depositional processes

Answer 4

Biological ; Bacteria and fungus
Physical ; Sun, wind, water, temperatire etc
Chemical ; Oxidation, acidity, decomposititon callagen and bone tissue etc

Question 5

4 innate factors influencing bone survival

Answer 5

1. Acidity deposition layer (not too acid, not to much alkaline)
2. Organic content deposition layer (mineral is bad, more organic is better)
3. moisture content deposition layer (dry is good, otherwise bad, preferably water-logged)
4. Excavation technique (hand collected worse than sieved)

Question 6

What are the 13 taphonomic processes?

Answer 6

1. slaughter->fragmentation
2. cooking -> change of structure
   (maak af?)

Question 7

Priority order

Answer 7

• Livestock
• Large game
• Bird game
• Fish
• Microvertebrates
  (small mammals/ reptiles / amphibians

Question 8

Social stratification

Answer 8

• Different consumption patterns, means different archaeozoological assemblages
• Ecclesiastical vs. secular sites
• Preference of archaeologists for higher class sites?
  Import of fish and other products
• Bias of species excavated in archaeological sites
• Social zooarchaeology: emerging discipline
• Backing-up interpretation

Question 9

Archaeozoological reporting can be based on 6 things:

Answer 9

1. Species (groups) identified
2. Identified bones
3. Degree of fragmentation & processing marks
4. Total number of bones (fragments) per species (NISP = Number of identified / individual specimens)
5. Total weight of bones per species
6. Minimum number of individuals (MNI)

Question 10

Interpreting archaeozoological data: qualitatively accurate representation of species composition but dependends on (4) :

Answer 10

Self-sufficient settlements (e.g. Mesolithic hunting camps)

• Excavation techniques applied (hand collected vs. sieved, mesh width sieves)
• Taphonomic conditions (especially groundwater table and acidity)
• Way of life communities (seasonal influences, dependence food source)
• Example: over-estimation historical sturgeon stocks

Question 11

Aurochs (Bos primigenius) (wild bull kinda animal)

Answer 11

*Present in Nl, F and GB; less in B
*Especially in the Mesolithic and Neolithic
*In Nl up into Roman times
*Especially in river valleys

Question 12

Wisent – the zooarchaeological records

Answer 12

• Not in Nl and B
• Sporadically in F
• Present in GB? – misidentifications?
• Especially on higher/dry grounds  poorly conserved bone remains?
• No convincing proof for presence in NW-Europe