Zooarchaeologists usually describe a bone fragment as a particular por
tion or segment using terminology based on skeletal orientation (e.g.
proximal, anterior, lateral). A more precise understanding of bone fra
gmentation can be achieved by naming portions for discrete anatomical
features and defined zones. Since the anatomical features are the diag
nostic criteria for identifying and orienting bones, each specimen nor
mally has at least one such portion, and a complete element contains a
ll of them. This recording method facilitates study of the relationshi
p between survivorship and volume density, and it enhances inter-site
comparisons. The method employs the minimum number of elements (MNE) a
nd minimum animal units (MAU) across a site-wide aggregate. Although i
llustrated here with an analysis of bison bones, the method can be ada
pted for the study of other taxa as well as for inter-species comparis
ons.