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ZOOARCHAEOLOGY
ANTH (ECOL) 4210/6210

From Nature's chain whatever link you strike,
Tenth or ten thousandth, breaks the chain alike.
Alexander Pope

 

Zooarchaeology is the study of animal bones from archaeological sites in order to make statements about human use of animal resources and the relationship between humans and their environments. The goals of the course are for students to learn to identify mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and fish bones from archaeological sites; to quantify these using common zooarchaeological methods; to interpret the results in terms of human behavior and/or environmental relationships; and to practice skills needed to do lab-based archaeological research. Students should have a background in Zoology, Geology, Ecology, or Anthropology; however, they are not expected to be knowledgeable in all four fields.

Some topics which may be covered include:

  • Vertebrate Taxonomy;
  • Comparative Osteology;
  • Bone Morphology;
  • Zooarchaeological History and Theory;
  • Ecological Interpretations of Human Behavior;
  • First and Second Order Changes;
  • Generating Primary and Secondary Data;
  • Humans as Predators;
  • Domestication;
  • and Past Environments.

The focus of the class is an archaeological collection made available to the class for study each year. Students are guided through the stages of zooarchaeological identification and analysis beginning with learning vertebrate skeletal systems, identifying animal bones in the class project, quantifying these materials, analyzing them, and preparing a report. In lab sessions, students learn to identify animal bones in the archaeological collection and to record information about the materials. Lectures cover excavation, identification, and interpretation of this collection. At the end of the semester, student reports on the project are sent to the archaeologist who donated the materials studied by the class.

Outside requirements are minimal; however, students should expect to spend approximately 40-50 hours during the semester in the laboratory (Room 8 of the Georgia Museum of Natural History) working on their project. The lab work must be done during normal operating hours of the Georgia Museum of Natural History (8:00-5:00; Monday through Friday).

Students are free to schedule lab times at their convenience as compatible with other uses of the laboratory. It is best to plan lab work in 2-3 hour blocks. Students should be sure they can schedule lab time before registering for the class. Students are evaluated on the basis of performance on four lab tests, an exam, a research paper, class participation, and laboratory techniques. Lab tests cover osteological materials as well as analysis and quantification techniques. The exam tests reading and lecture materials in conjunction with archaeological samples. The research report is based on the identification and analysis of a collection of animal bones from an archaeological site. A portion of the grade is based on a subjective evaluation of laboratory skills and class participation.

This course fulfills one of the requirements of the Center for Archaeological Sciences Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Certificate Program in Archaeological Sciences.

For more information about this course or to obtain permission to register for the course, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Reitz at ereitz@uga.edu.