The Archaeology of Animal Bones

Texas A&M University Anthropology Series

by Terry P. O'Connor

Animal bones are one of the most abundant types of evidence found in archaeological sites dating from pre-historic times to the Middle Ages, and they can reveal a startling amount about the economy and way of life of people in the past. This is a fascinating introduction for anyone seeking to understand how these bones can shed light on our knowledge of the past, as well as the complex relationship between human and animals. Written by one of the most respected experts in this field, and published for the first time in paperback, this book will be essential reading for archaeologists, or indeed anyone intrigued by the recreation of long lost worlds from the most insignificant-seeming fragments of animal bones.

Genres: Archaeology, Palaeontology, Animals

244 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2000

About the author

Terry O'Connor read Archaeology at London University, specialising in field archaeology and the study of animal remains. On completion of a PhD in which sheep featured strongly, he worked at the Environmental Archaeology Unit, University of York for nine years, principally conducting zooarchaeological research on material from York. He then moved to the University of Bradford for a further nine years, teaching zooarchaeology and environmental archaeology.

Terry returned to York in 1999 and intends to stay there.

Reviews

[Anjj]

easier read than human osteology lol but just as facinating. what a waste of 19% of the book which is bibliography :-(

[Lee Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good introductory text to zooarchaeology, using the author's own research as case studies and written with a great deal of humour. It also features more on taphonomy and palaeoecology than other introductory texts to the subject.

[Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect companion of a short course I attended on Osteoarchaeology, I was mainly interested in the animal side over the human so I purchased this interesting book.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The guy who wrote this is a goofy Brit, and it comes out in randomly delightful places. Never would have thought that reading a textbook about zooarchaeology could be this much fun!

[Antonio De Cunzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very good discussion on basic bone biology, but otherwise very heavy on European examples and not particularly thorough.