This has been a really interesting thread. I have a particular issue. I sit here in the US, but most of the material I have worked on over the past 35+ years is stored in the UK. When Juliet Clutton-Brock was still at the BMNH she agreed to take all the West Stow material. The subsequent curator decided that he didn’t want it, and it now sits in a storage unit in Ipswich, along with the material from Brandon, Icklingham, Ipswich... I hope that the analyst would be consulted before any decisions about disposal were made. Since I will not be back in the UK until the TAG meetings in December, I hope that we can continue the November conversation at ICAZ next year. There are a lot of things that could be done with the West Stow material that simply were not done in the later 1970s, Pam Crabtree

 

From: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">Terry O'Connor

Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 11:37 AM

To: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">[log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains

 

Well, this thread has certainly stirred up a diversity of views - good! From David Orton's thoughtful contribution, I would draw attention to the following passage:

"Personally, I would argue that while every case is obviously different, the ideal strategy in a given situation (short of complete retention, obviously) is likely to entail a combination of these approaches: retention of everything from a sample of contexts, and of a sample of "good" specimens from the remainder. Such a strategy could get very complicated very fast, however, making it absolutely imperative that a detailed explanation be lodged in the archive (with back-ups elsewhere) where it cannot be missed by any visiting researcher. I know this should be obvious, but my experience is that past retention strategies are often anything but transparent".

In a nutshell, that is what we have been trying to do, of necessity more than choice, with the Hungate material from York. For a sample of contexts, selected on grounds of contextual integrity, whatever was recovered is retained. For the remainder, a limited selection of specimens likely to be of future research value in themselves is retained, such as exotic taxa out of their usual temporal or geographic range or particularly distinctive pathological specimens. Incidentally, at the time of writing, material that has not been retained has not been 'disposed of' either. That final step needs a little more consideration, not least whether material of little future research value could have contemporary value as handling/teaching collections.

And Simon's hoped-for low-cost direct dating method for bones may come to pass, but please excuse me if I don't hold my breath in anticipation....

Terry

 

 

Terry O'Connor

Professor of Archaeological Science

Department of Archaeology, University of York

Biology S Block, Heslington,

York YO10 5DD

+44-1904-328619

http://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/academic-staff/terry-oconnor/

http://www.sciculture.ac.uk/projects/large-grants/cultural-and-scientific-perceptions-of-human-chicken-interactions/

On 23 October 2013 15:49, Simon Davis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

And besides, one day we'll have a method for dating small bones individually
that won't cost much . . . then even the poorly stratified material will
become useful!
Simon Davis

-----Mensagem original-----
De: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] Em nome de Michael A. Etnier
Enviada: quarta-feira, 23 de Outubro de 2013 0:37
Para: [log in to unmask]
Assunto: Re: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains

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/