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Anthropology 481 
Zooarchaeology
Prof. Marshall

Zooarchaeology, the study of animal bones from archaeological sites, provides key information for archaeologists on human diet and subsistence practices through time. The goal of this course is to introduce students to approaches and techniques employed in zooarchaeological studies, focusing on the study of mammalian bones from archaeological sites. 
Topics covered will include:

  • vertebrate skeletal anatomy
  • how archaeological faunal assemblages are sorted, recorded and quantified
  • the osteology of major mammalian families, and their identification from skeletal remains
  • taphonomic and preservational issues
  • measuring and aging skeletal elements and interpreting age profiles in faunal assemblages
  • bone processing and modification
  • zooarchaeology's role in larger anthropological questions such as the transition to agriculture and the emergence of complex societies