ANTH 480ZMethods in Zooarchaeology

Catalog

Zooarchaeology is a multidisciplinary field, and its diversity stems from applying a variety of archaeological, anthropological, biological, and ecological concepts and methods to identify animal bones from archaeological sites aiming to answer a wide range of questions. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of zooarchaeology, in addition to practical experience during the Lab component of the course. The covered topics include an overview of the theories, history, and main principles of zooarchaeological research, field and lab methodology, the uses of zooarchaeological data to reconstruct environment and subsistence strategies, quantitative methods, and paleopathology. During Labs, students will be involved in hand-on identification of various mammals, birds, and fish species, classifying bone modifications, and conducting an analysis of a zooarchaeological assemblage utilizing quantitative and age/sex estimation methods. There is a $58 fee associated with this course.