Zooarchaeology is a fascinating field of study that combines the disciplines of archaeology and biology to understand the relationship between humans and animals in the past. By analyzing animal remains found at archaeological sites, zooarchaeologists can reconstruct ancient ecosystems, trace human-animal interactions, and gain insights into past societies’ diet, hunting practices, trade networks, and religious beliefs.
The origins of zooarchaeology can be traced back to the early 19th century when some pioneering naturalists such as Georges Cuvier began to recognize the importance of studying animal bones recovered from caves and other prehistoric sites. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that zooarchaeology emerged as a distinct scientific discipline with its own methods, theories, and terminology.
One of the main goals of zooarchaeology is to identify which species were present at an archaeological site and how they were used by humans. This involves analyzing different types of animal remains such as bones, teeth, shells, antlers or horns. Zooarchaeologists use various techniques such as morphological analysis (examining bone shape), metric analysis (measuring bone size), histological analysis (studying bone microstructure), or isotopic analysis (detecting chemical signatures) to identify what species lived in a particular environment in the past.
For example, if a zooarchaeologist finds many large mammal bones with cut marks on them at an excavation site near a riverbank where large herbivores are known to gather for grazing or watering purposes; he/she may conclude that these animals were hunted by people who lived in that area thousands of years ago. Alternatively; if small fishbones are found at an inland settlement site far away from any water source; this could suggest that trade networks existed between different regions where marine resources were obtained.
Another aspect investigated by zooarchaeologists is how animals were exploited for food or other purposes by humans. The analysis of bones can help to determine the age, sex, and size of animals that were hunted or domesticated, as well as which parts of the carcass were used for food, tools, or ornaments. This information can provide valuable insights into past societies’ subsistence strategies and economic systems.
For example; by analyzing the animal remains at a Viking Age settlement site in Iceland; zooarchaeologists have found that cattle were the primary livestock kept by these people but pigs and sheep were also present albeit in smaller numbers. The bones suggest that many cows were slaughtered at a young age indicating they probably played a role in providing dairy products rather than meat. Zooarchaeologists have also discovered evidence of fishing activities such as cod bone fragments suggesting that marine resources may have been an important part of their diet too.
Another area where zooarchaeology has made significant contributions is understanding ancient religious beliefs and practices related to animals. Many cultures around the world have worshipped certain animals or believed them to be sacred for various reasons; such as being associated with powerful deities or having symbolic meanings related to fertility, strength, wisdom or other virtues.
For instance; In ancient Egypt cows were revered as symbols of motherhood and fertility while cats represented guardianship and protection against evil spirits. Similarly; among Native American tribes bison was considered sacred because it provided food, clothing and shelter for them while deer was seen as embodying gracefulness and agility.
Overall; zooarchaeology plays a vital role in reconstructing past human-animal relationships by examining animal remains from archaeological sites all over the world. Its interdisciplinary approach combining biology, anthropology, ecology makes it an exciting field with lots of scope for future discoveries about our shared human history with other species on this planet!