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Zooarchaeology is the analysis of animal remains, such as bone or shell that are recovered from an archaeological site that includes basic sorting, specific identification of species, and quantification by count (Number of Identified Specimens--NISP) and weight. By studying these remains we can understand what people were eating, the role of animals in that society (e.g. use for transportation, labor, or pets), as well as changes to the natural environment.
As part of New South Associates Subsistence Studies Program, zooarchaeological analysis is offered to other CRM firms and is also employed in our projects. New South Associates has zooarchaeologists on staff that specialize in prehistoric foodways, shell midden studies, South Florida midden sites, rural and urban historic foodways, African-American studies, and French and Indian War studies from terrestrial, riverine, and coastal sites. New South Associates' team of zooarchaeologists utilizes their extensive comparative skeletal collection and has access to institutional collections for more diverse species for various types of information.
The zooarchaeological analysis that New South Associates provides includes the NISP, weight, and a count of Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI). Faunal elements are identified to genus and species whenever possible and to the most specific taxonomic grouping. Faunal assemblages are also examined for modifications and where appropriate, statistical analyses are performed. Bone modifications, such as butchering cuts and gnaw marks, are tabulated and/or graphically represented on skeletal diagrams. Cuts and portions of meat are tabulated and discussed separately for each mammal species when applicable. For prehistoric assemblages, habitat exploitation, hunting/harvest technology, and procurement strategies are also examined. All zooarchaeological data is stored within a relational database specially designed for the Subsistence Studies Program.
Zooarchaeologist Jeannine Windham conducts detailed faunal analysis of remains from Site 9TF145, the Square Ground Lamar Site in Telfair County, Georigia. Ms. Windham was able to provide a detailed zooarchaeological report to the Fernbank Museum in Atlanta, which indicated that the site inhabitants diet was rich in turtle.
