Zooarchaeology (or Archaeozoology) is the study of animal remains from archaeological sites. The remains consist primarily of the hard parts of the body such as bones, teeth, and shells. Such remains may represent the food refuse of ancient populations as well as animals used for transportation, farm labor, clothing, decoration, or pets.

In some contexts, particularly in Paleolithic sites, it is necessary to verify through a taphonomic analysis that animal remains were actually deposited by humans.

The study of these remains helps archaeologists understand past human subsistence strategies and economic interactions, and completes our picture of the kind of environments humans have inhabited.

See also

• ABMAP
• Bioarchaeology
• Paleopathology

External links

• Association of Environmental Archaeology
• BoneCommons(ICAZ)
• International Council for Archaeozoology(ICAZ)
• Zooarchaeology Home Page
• Archeozoo: collaborative website of archaeozoology

Archaeological sub-disciplines | Ethnobiology | Zoology

Archäozoologie | Archéozoologie