I am enjoying this discussion immensely. As alan has
pointed out there are a number of decisions we all make
what do we identify
what and how do we record
what do we then do with our data
After describing to masters students the method I use, all
the id and recording protocols, zooarchaeology appears to
be based on a series of subjective decisions rather than an
objective science. As we have seen in this discussion we
affect our data from the minute we open the box (not to
mention what happens before it gets to us).
It is interesting to note the differences between the
various countries, in the UK counting fragments or zones
seems to be most popular. Whilst I am getting the idea that
in other european countries weighing and counting is
popular. Do you use zones as well, of is that overkill?
Are we all just trying to get at how much of what is there?
(an estimate of fragment size, hence the calculations of
average weight or number of zones). Then we move onto how
much meat, how many animals and what were they doing with
them? I am never happy with any of the methods I use and I
am still hoping for a blinding flash one day on how to do
more (or a stunning contribution to zooarch!). In my dreams
I will find a site where every context is dated and so I
can link whats in my deposits with a time period (though
did they put all their rubbish in that one context?)
One of the problems is that many of the people who do the
main body of zooarch contract work here in the UK are on
such tight time schedules that they don't have time to
experiment, to use new techniques and see where they lead.
Hence I feel we do need to have such discussions on zooarch.
Just about to analyse a very large iron age site - so
methods of analysis are in the fore of my mind.
Keep up the good work - we have over 200 members opinions
to canvass. Also thanks to all those for whom english is
not their first language for doing such a great job writing
to the list - we don't mind how poor you think your english
is, your contributions are both understandable and very
welcome.
jacqui
----------------------
Jacqui Mulville,
EH Regional Science Advisor (E. Mids)
Oxford University Museum,
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW
Tel: 01865-272996 Fax: 01865-272970
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