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I'm afraid I have to disagree with Julie vis a vis the utility of poorly-dated assemblages. On our Pacific Coast, Shawn Larson was interested in evaluating the loss of genetic diversity in sea otters as a consequence of commercial over-hunting of their populations. All she needed to know is that the sampled bones pre-dated the beginning of the commercial trade. We sampled 25 individuals, which required a massive overall assemblage size, and she was able to document that their genetic diversity was roughly twice that of the post-commercial remnant population. None of this could have been accomplished if the assemblage had been thinned out and partially discarded. ---Mike Michael A. Etnier, PhD Applied Osteology Bellingham, WA www.appliedosteology.com and Department of Anthropology University of Washington Seattle, WA http://faculty.washington.edu/metnier/ -------- Original Message -------- > From: "Julie Hamilton" <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 4:34 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains > > From the point of view of someone who's spent a lot of time sampling curated bone for isotope analysis (which wasn't even dreamt of at the time the sites were dug): it's all about the archaeology. Bone from mixed contexts or without good contextual information is virtually useless, however complete/pretty/identified/modified/interesting. Conversely, scrappy bone from a secure context (especially if dated)is really useful. See also the recent projects headed by Alasdair Whittle & Alex Bayliss on radiocarbon dating long barrows & causewayed enclosures - fantastic fine-grained dating of major importance to archaeology in general, not zooarchaeology alone. I think this would apply to most studies that rely on going back to museum collections, even the ones using techniques that haven't been invented yet. > j > > Julie Hamilton > RLAHA > Dyson Perrins Bldg > South Parks Rd > OXFORD OX1 3QY > > Phone: 01865 285216 > Mobile: 07814 433424 > email: [log in to unmask] > > When emailing me, please check that you are using the @rlaha address, to avoid confusion with the other JH at Oxford! (@MedSci) > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Warman, Sylvia > Sent: 22 October 2013 10:27 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains > > Sorry Zooarchers > > I forgot the no attachments rule. > > Please use the following link to find out more about the upcoming event at the LAARC. > > http://www.archaeologists.net/news/131021-workshop-selection-strategies-arch ive-deposition-or-'less-more > > > Best Wishes > > Sylvia > > > > Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, London > > Direct Line: 0207 973 3733 > > Mobile Phone: 07881805347 > > > > English Heritage | 1 Waterhouse Square > > 138-42 Holborn | London EC1N 2ST > > > > www.english-heritage.org.uk > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Symmons [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 22 October 2013 10:15 > To: Warman, Sylvia > Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains > > Since it will be the day before my 40th, I would say a drink is mandatory. > :) > xx > > -----Original Message----- > From: Warman, Sylvia [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 22 October 2013 10:09 > To: 'Robert Symmons' > Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains > > Super > > Might fit in a swift beverage after unless you are on tight schedule? > > Sylvia > > > Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, London > > Direct Line: 0207 973 3733 > > Mobile Phone: 07881805347 > > > > English Heritage | 1 Waterhouse Square > > 138-42 Holborn | London EC1N 2ST > > > > www.english-heritage.org.uk > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Symmons [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 22 October 2013 10:08 > To: Warman, Sylvia > Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains > > Hi Dude > Already enrolled in the meeting. It sounds like it will be an excellent day! > xx > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Warman, Sylvia [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 22 October 2013 10:00 > To: 'Robert Symmons' > Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains > > Hello Nobs > > We (folks in London with help of IfA london and the LAARC) are holding a workshop on just this topic on 14th Novemeber at the LAARC. > > I'm taking notes in the animal bone session - but it would be great to have some more curator type people there (plus you are still a Zooarch underneath as it were). > > I will send a less chatty version of this around ZOOARCH. > > Details of workshop attached - I do hope you can make it. > > Sylvia > > > Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, London > > Direct Line: 0207 973 3733 > > Mobile Phone: 07881805347 > > > > English Heritage | 1 Waterhouse Square > > 138-42 Holborn | London EC1N 2ST > > > > www.english-heritage.org.uk > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert Symmons > Sent: 22 October 2013 09:56 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains > > Dear All > > Like much of the country, museums here in Sussex are suffering from an acute lack of storage space. In an attempt to alleviate this problem Sussex Museums Group (in consultation with the planning authority, local specialists and commercial units) is keen to limit the volume of material that is entering museum stores from developer-funded excavations. We are facing the prospect of making some very difficult decisions and I do not ask the following question lightly: > > What animal bone from developer-funded excavations could justifiably be disposed of following analysis, rather than being deposited at a museum? > > Of course we understand that the answer is not as simple as the question, but we hope to synthesise specialist opinion into some guidance that can be rolled out across the county. Sadly, keeping everything is not an option at this stage. > > All the best > Rob > > Rob Symmons > Secretary, Sussex Museums Group. > > This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available. > > Portico: your gateway to information on sites in the National Heritage Collection; have a look and tell us what you think. > http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/por > tico/ > > This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available. > > Portico: your gateway to information on sites in the National Heritage Collection; have a look and tell us what you think. > http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/por > tico/ > > This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available. > > Portico: your gateway to information on sites in the National Heritage Collection; have a look and tell us what you think. > http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/por tico/