Archaeozoology is a subfield of archaeology that focuses on the study of animal remains recovered from archaeological sites. It involves the analysis and interpretation of animal bones, teeth, shells, and other animal body parts in order to gain insights into past human-animal relationships, environmental conditions, and human subsistence strategies.
The main objective of archaeozoology is to reconstruct the prehistoric or ancient diet, hunting and fishing practices, domestication processes, and overall interactions between humans and animals. This can be achieved by examining factors such as species identification, age-at-death determination, sexing, quantification, and the analysis of butchery marks, bone breakage patterns, and other modifications made by human activities.
Archaeozoologists employ various scientific techniques such as zooarchaeology, which involves the systematic recording and analysis of animal remains, and isotopic analysis, which examines stable isotopes found in bones and teeth to determine dietary habits. These methods help to unravel important aspects of past societies and ecosystems, shedding light on human cultural practices and technological advancements, as well as the impact humans had on local fauna.
The field of archaeozoology is interdisciplinary, drawing knowledge and research methods from archaeology, anthropology, biology, geology, and other related disciplines. It plays a critical role in understanding ancient civilizations, their livelihoods, and their impact on their surroundings. Archaeozoologists contribute to our understanding of cultural evolution, human-animal interactions, and the interdependence between humans and the natural world throughout history.
