BISON BONE FRAGMENTATION AND SURVIVORSHIP - A COMPARATIVE METHOD

Authors
Citation
Re. Morlan, BISON BONE FRAGMENTATION AND SURVIVORSHIP - A COMPARATIVE METHOD, Journal of archaeological science, 21(6), 1994, pp. 797-807
Citations number
41
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Archaeology,Archaeology
ISSN journal
0305-4403
Volume
21
Issue
6
Year of publication
1994
Pages
797 - 807
Database
ISI
SICI code
0305-4403(1994)21:6<797:BBFAS->2.0.ZU;2-R
Abstract
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.