Dear Juha;
There are quite literally too many publications on the subject of taphonomic processes affecting bone to cite, as it was a very "hot" issue in the 1980s. I'd suggest you start by getting a copy of: Lyman, R. L. 1994 Vertebrate Taphonomy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. (for a review of the large number of factors that affect bone preservation). I also suspect the digest for this list contains some useful leads. And here are some useful articles that might be of interest if you are trying to use taxonomic representations to reconstruct animal communities:
Grayson, D. K. 1981 A Critical View of the Use of Archaeological Vertebrates in Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction. Journal of Ethobiology 1(1):28-38.
Lyman, R. L. 1984 Bone Density and Differential Survivorship of Fossil Classes. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 3:259-299.
Gifford, D. P. 1981 Taphonomy and Paleoecology: A Critical Review of Archaeology's Sister Disciplines. Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory 4:365-437.
Best of luck
AB
> Dear Zooarch,
>
> =20
>
> My name is Juha Savolainen and unlike almost all (?) the list members, I =
> am a complete layman in zooarchaeology/archaeozoology (actually, I earn =
> my living by teaching philosophy and critical thinking, if that is of =
> any interest to anybody). I have been a lurker here for more than two =
> years and I have greatly admired the spirit of friendly cooperation that =
> is evident here (and so rare in many scholarly and scientific =
> communities). I have a rather general question that has vexed my mind =
> for some time and I would be very pleased if Zooarch could cast some =
> illumination on this question.
>
> =20
>
> Briefly, we all know that there is no simple and uniform relationship =
> between the preservation of animal remains (bones etc.) and the =
> representation of such animals in historical documents, pictures, =
> figurines etc. in geographical areas at specified time periods. However, =
> it seems to me that there is no simple and uniform relationship between =
> the preservation of animal remains and the presence of such animals in =
> geographical areas at specified time periods either. So, if this is so, =
> may I ask you what are the main causes contributing to this differential =
> preservation of faunal remains?
>
> =20
>
> Best regards,
>
> Juha Savolainen
>
--
Oliver Brown
PhD candidate
Archaeology, A22, University of Sydney, 2006, NSW
lab:(02) 9036 5127 / mob: 0427 279 675 / hm: 9665 2073
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