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Advanced Zooarchaeology

Module description

Zooarchaeology is the study of past human interactions with animals, through the analysis of faunal remains from archaeological sites. This module focuses on the methods that zooarchaeologists use to identify faunal remains and interpret what they mean. It involves learning to identify the bones and teeth of the most significant wild and domestic animal species (mammals, birds and fish) commonly found in Britain. It will explore how to establish past human patterns of hunting, farming and social interaction. Course content will contain short lectures, seminars, exercises in interpreting faunal data, and practical engagement with bones.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module will provide training in the theory and practice of zooarchaeology, giving competence in the techniques of observation, recording and interpretation. You will attain competence in the identification and recording of bones from some common animal species and will gain an understanding of how to analyse such data. You will be acquainted with how bone assemblages can be interpreted to give us a fuller picture of past cultures, economies and environments in different archaeological periods.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically understand the key theoretical concepts of zooarchaeology
• 2. Use appropriate terms and conventions employed in archaeology
• 3. Demonstrate competence in the identification and recording of the bones and teeth from key animal species
• 4. Prepare and interpret zooarchaeological data
• 5. Critically appreciate the ways in which animal bone assemblages can tell us about past cultures, economies and environment in different archaeological periods

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Show initiative in interpreting a variety of information forms
• 7. Assimilate/manage numerical and graphical data
• 8. Deploy data from technical reports

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Manage data and display it graphically
• 10. Acquire a range of observational and analytical skills which are applicable in the wider world
• 11. Ask pertinent questions, contribute to group discussions, and co-operate with and learn from peers

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Throughout the course weekly sessions will cover the identification of skeletal elements from key species of mammal, bird and fish.

Other topics:

• Bird and fish skeleton and nomenclature
• Taphonomy
• Quantification; skeletal part abundance and transport
• Seasonality
• Age at death from bone fusion and dental eruption and wear
• Sexing criteria: metrical and non-metrical traits
• Domestication and breed development
• Reconstructing herd structures
• Sheep/goat separation
• Butchery, bone fracture, pathology
• Assemblage analysis

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Cohen, A. and Serjeantson, D. (1996) A Manual for the Identification of Bird Bones from Archaeological Sites. London: Archetype.
• Davis, S.J.M. (1987). The Archaeology of Animals. London: Batsford
• Dobney, K.M., Jaques, S.D. and Irving, B.G. (1995). Of Butchers and Breeds: report on the vertebrate remains from the City of Lincoln. Lincoln: Lincoln Archaeological Studies 5.
• Driesch A.E. von den (1976). A Guide to the Measurement of Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites. Peabody Museum Bulletin 1.
• Legge, A.J. and Rowley-Conwy, P.A. (1988). Star Carr Revisited. London: Centre for Extra Mural Studies.
• Lyman, R.L. (1994) Vertebrate Taphonomy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Outram, AK and Bogaard, A. (2019) Subsistence and Society in Prehistory: New Directions in Economic Prehistory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Reitz, E.J. and Wing, E.A. (2008) Zooarchaeology (2^nd  Ed.).Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Rowley-Conwy, P.A. Ed. (2000) Animal Bones, Human Societies. Oxford: Oxbow Monographs.
• Sykes, N. (2014) Beastly Questions: Animal Answers to Archaeological Issues. London; Bloomsbury.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11099

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Departmental animal bone reference collection
• Computer aided learning materials for animal bone identification

Key words search

Zooarchaeology, Taphonomy, Animals, Zoology