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Story of the past resources

Archaeo(zoo)logy and taxonomy Roel Lauwerier National Service for Archaeology, Cultural Landscape and Built Heritage (RACM). Workshop Users of taxonomic information European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy (EDIT), 23-2-2008. Story of the past resources. 5 000 before present.

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Story of the past resources

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  1. Archaeo(zoo)logy and taxonomyRoel LauwerierNational Service for Archaeology, Cultural Landscape and Built Heritage (RACM) Workshop Users of taxonomic informationEuropean Distributed Institute of Taxonomy (EDIT), 23-2-2008

  2. Story of the pastresources 5 000 before present 15 000 before pr. Archaeological remains are the most important source of knowledge of most periods of our past. 2 000 before present 10 000 before present Written sources

  3. Archaeology reconstructing images of the past Study of past societies through their material remains

  4. Biological remains interaction humans - living environment • Plant remains • seeds and fruits • pollen • wood • …

  5. Biological remains interaction humans - living environment • Animal remains • bone • antler • teeth • …

  6. Archaeological questions and archaeozoology interaction humans - living environment • Domestication • Hunting – stock breeding • Food production • Food consumption, preparation • Trade, interaction • Handicraft • Environment • Non-economic aspects • …

  7. Archaeozoology parameters • Traces of cutting, sawing, gnawing, burning, … • Age at death • Skeletal elements • … • Species

  8. Identifying species reference collections • Morphological identification • atlases, measurements, indices • reference collections

  9. Identifying species reference collections • Primary organization • skeletal element • Composition • Dutch soil • archaeological relevance

  10. Archaeozoological ‘taxonomy’ and nomenclature • Domestic mammals • cattle • sheep • sheep or goat • pig • horse • dog • Wild mammals • aurochs • red deer • wild boar • … • Bos taurus • Ovis aries • Ovis aries / capra hircus • Sus domesticus • Equus caballus • Canis familiaris • Bos primigenius • Cervus elaphus • Sus scrofa • …

  11. Reference system for archaeozool. information BoneInfo (www.racm.nl) • Refers to information on studied archaeozoological complexes from the Dutch territory (soil and water) • Size • 1500 complexes, 18000 species records, 3400 references • Parameters (selection) • location (coordinates, toponym, municipality, ...) • type of complex (e.g. hunting camp, farm, legionary fort, town) • period (e.g. late Palaeolithic, mid Roman period) • species • (grey) literature

  12. BoneInfo (www.racm.nl)Selection form

  13. BoneInfo (www.racm.nl)Reports

  14. Archaeozoology and taxonomy struggling with species • Characteristics of (most) archaeozoologist • Not animals but humans are their main focus • Most of them have studied archaeology / anthropology, not biology • They live in an other world as taxonomists do • It is a small world • Many of them work for private companies

  15. Archaeozoology and taxonomy struggling with species • Identifying bone fragments • wild – domestic • hybrids • morphologically alike species Do we know the studies that are relevant for archaeozoology? Changing taxonomy and nomenclature What is the actual information? What has changed? Where can we find this information?

  16. National Service for Archaeology, Cultural Landscape and Built Heritage (RACM) www.racm.nl Roel Lauwerier, r.lauwerier@racm.nl

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