Animal Bones and Archaeology: Recovery to archive
1
Animal Bones and Archaeology: Recovery to archive Supplement 2: Excavating animal bones Always make sure that you follow the project methods statement. This will reflect the needs of particular research questions, aims and objectives. Regular feedback between fieldwork staff (excavation and sample processing) and the zooarchaeologist can highlight changes to the excavation approach that will improve the interpretative potential of the bone assemblage. When excavating bones: be careful to avoid breaking bones or damaging their surface collect all bones and teeth, including small fragments If you are not certain how to proceed with an unusual animal bone deposit, ask the project zooarchaeologist. It may be useful for them to view or record the deposit in situ. Excavating animal bone groups (ABGs: whole skeletons, articulated bones or unfused parts of bones) ( see p 18) Is it human or animal? If human obtain an excavation licence. The best way to check is to look at the skull or feet: shape and number of bones differ between species (see Fig S2.1). Infant or partial human skeletons can look like animal skeletons (Fig S2.2). Where possible the project zooarchaeologist should view in situ to confirm completeness. ✓ Photograph (Fig S2.3) and plan in situ. ✓ Assign ABG number and complete record form (eg Fig S2.1). ✓ Record any disturbance and associated finds. ✓ Take care to recover the whole skeleton. If the animal was pregnant, foetal bones may survive. Some male animals have a penis bone which is not articulated to other bones (eg dogs and many wild mammals). ✓ Take whole-earth samples where small bones may be present (eg around feet, pelvis or tail, and entire position of cat-sized and smaller animals). 2 Don’t mix ABG bones with other animal bones from the context. ✓ Bag up by skeleton part (left front leg, right front leg, skull, etc). It’s not always possible to assign toes to the correct foot in the lab. ✓ If part of the ABG can’t be excavated (eg continuing into a baulk that can’t be removed), record and photograph the details of this ( see also p 17). ✓ If you find an ABG when half-sectioning a feature, stop! Record the section above the ABG, expose the complete ABG for full recording and recovery, and then continue your half section. ARTICULATED BONE GROUP form, Historic England. Updated February 2015 Page 2 of 2 Site name: Project code: Year: Small Find: MAMMAL SKELETON DIAGRAM Choose the skeleton most like your archaeological animal and shade/annotate the bones present (eg head and jaws only). Indicate any aspects of interest (eg disturbed area of bone highlighted) e s r o H r e e d , t a o g / p e e h s , e l t t a C e r o v i n r a C g i P Fig S2.1 Example extract from an ABG recording form used for skeletons of different mammals. Fig S2.2 Neonatal and infant human remains can look very similar to young bones of animals. (A) fox; (B) human; (C) sheep; (D) cattle; (E) guinea fowl. 276 345 275 347 277 274 346 373 272 269 271 369 (Sk. 2371) 376 348 372 273 371 370 375 379 378 377 270 * * * C14 (500-390 BC) (490-390 BC) (490-390 BC) C14 C14 Fig S2.3 Iron Age ABGs individually numbered prior to lifting. Excavating fragmented and fragile remains ( see pp 21–22) ✓ Photograph the bones in situ. ✓ Keep fragments of a broken bone together and separate from other bones, especially jaws with loose teeth (Fig S2.4). Record the reason for separation to inform processing and analysis. ✓ Fragile (soft or brittle) bones may need block-lifting. The zooarchaeologist and conservator can advise whether this should be done. The zooarchaeologist may be able to record aspects of the bones in situ. ✓ Use rigid boards for block lifting and keep bones damp and cold until they reach a conservator. 2 Don’t use consolidants if you might need the bones for biochemical analysis (radiocarbon, isotopes, DNA etc) ( see also pp 22–23). Fig S2.4 This pig mandible is likely to fragment and lose its teeth once lifted. All fragments and teeth must be kept together and not mixed with other bones and teeth from the context so that they can be used to age the animal . Excavating bones and teeth from manufacturing waste or used as building material ( see pp 18–20) ✓ Photograph and plan in situ as required. 2 Don’t selectively collect the bones without zooarchaeological advice. If very large deposits are found, the zooarchaeologist may suggest a recovery strategy. ✓ Whole-earth samples may be needed to recover bones of smaller animals ( see also pp 15–17). ✓ Inform the zooarchaeologist before excavating bones used in construction (pit lining, walls, floors): they may need to record some aspects in situ. Taking samples for bones ( see pp 15–17 ) Sampling is important for the recovery of representative assemblages (eg of species, age groups, body parts). ✓ Samples should be whole-earth, ie retain all bones within the sample, unless too fragile. Any bones removed must be identified as from the sample. ✓ Samples for bones may need to be large, for example 100 litres, to recover a big enough assemblage to address the project’s questions. ✓ Feedback on bones from processed samples and hand collection can highlight the need for altering the sampling approach or targeting excavation. ✓ Samples may also be needed where abundant, articulated or small animal bones are seen in situ. Seek advice from the project specialist. This supplement accompanies and cross-references sections in Baker, P and Worley, F 2019 Animal Bones and Archaeology: Recovery to archive. Swindon: Historic England. Images: S2.1 Historic England; S2.2 F Worley; S2.3 Wessex Archaeology; S2.4 T O’Connor. Additional contributors and acknowledgements are provided in the main document. Design by Historic England. © Historic England. Product Code: HE0001
Transcript of Animal Bones and Archaeology: Recovery to archive
Animal Bones and Archaeology: Recovery to archive Supplement 2: Excavating animal bones
Always make sure that you follow the project methods statement. This will reflect the needs of particular research questions, aims and objectives. Regular feedback between fieldwork staff (excavation and sample processing) and the zooarchaeologist can highlight changes to the excavation approach that will improve the interpretative potential of the bone assemblage.
When excavating bones:
� be careful to avoid breaking bones or damaging their surface
� collect all bones and teeth, including small fragments If you are not certain how to proceed with an unusual animal bone deposit, ask the project zooarchaeologist. It may be useful for them to view or record the deposit in situ.
Excavating animal bone groups (ABGs: whole skeletons, articulated bones or unfused parts of bones) (see p 18) Is it human or animal? If human obtain an excavation licence. The best way to check is to look at the skull or feet: shape and number of bones differ between species (see Fig S2.1). Infant or partial human skeletons can look like animal skeletons (Fig S2.2). Where possible the project zooarchaeologist should view in situ to confirm completeness.
✓ Photograph (Fig S2.3) and plan in situ.
✓ Assign ABG number and complete record form (eg Fig S2.1).
✓ Record any disturbance and associated finds.
✓ Take care to recover the whole skeleton. If the animal was pregnant, foetal bones may survive. Some male animals have a penis bone which is not articulated to other bones (eg dogs and many wild mammals).
✓ Take whole-earth samples where small bones may be present (eg around feet, pelvis or tail, and entire position of cat-sized and smaller animals).
2 Don’t mix ABG bones with other animal bones from the context.
✓ Bag up by skeleton part (left front leg, right front leg, skull, etc). It’s not always possible to assign toes to the correct foot in the lab.
✓ If part of the ABG can’t be excavated (eg continuing into a baulk that can’t be removed), record and photograph the details of this (see also p 17).
✓ If you find an ABG when half-sectioning a feature, stop! Record the section above the ABG, expose the complete ABG for full recording and recovery, and then continue your half section.
ARTICULATED BONE GROUP form, Historic England. Updated February 2015 Page 2 of 2
Site name: Project code: Year: Small Find:
MAMMAL SKELETONDIAGRAM
Choose the skeleton most like your archaeological animal and shade/annotate the bones present (eg head and jaws only). Indicate any aspects of interest (eg disturbed area of bone highlighted)
esroH reed ,taog/peehs ,elttaC
erovinraC giP
Fig S2.1 Example extract from an ABG recording form used for skeletons of different mammals.
Fig S2.2 Neonatal and infant human remains can look very similar to young bones of animals. (A) fox; (B) human; (C) sheep; (D) cattle; (E) guinea fowl.
345
275
347
277
274346
373
272
267
349
264
265263
367
259
257 260351
266
268
269
271
369 (Sk. 2371)
376
348
372 273
371 370
375
379
378377
270
276 345
275
347
277
274346
373
272
267
349
264
265263
367
259
257 260351
266
268
269
271
369 (Sk. 2371)
376
348
372 273
371 370
375
379
378377
270
*
**
C14 (500-390 BC)
(490-390 BC)
(490-390 BC)
C14
C14
276 345
275
347
277
274346
373
272
267349
264
265
263
259
257
260
351
266
268
269
271
369 (Sk. 2371)
376
348
372273
371 370
375
379
378377
270
*
**
C14(500-390 BC)
(490-390 BC) (490-390 BC)C14C14
Fig S2.3 Iron Age ABGs individually numbered prior to lifting.
Excavating fragmented and fragile remains (see pp 21–22) ✓ Photograph the bones in situ.
✓ Keep fragments of a broken bone together and separate from other bones, especially jaws with loose teeth (Fig S2.4). Record the reason for separation to inform processing and analysis.
✓ Fragile (soft or brittle) bones may need block-lifting. The zooarchaeologist and conservator can advise whether this should be done. The zooarchaeologist may be able to record aspects of the bones in situ.
✓ Use rigid boards for block lifting and keep bones damp and cold until they reach a conservator.
2 Don’t use consolidants if you might need the bones for biochemical analysis (radiocarbon, isotopes, DNA etc) (see also pp 22–23).
Fig S2.4 This pig mandible is likely to fragment and lose its teeth once lifted. All fragments and teeth must be kept together and not mixed with other bones and teeth from the context so that they can be used to age the animal.
Excavating bones and teeth from manufacturing waste or used as building material (see pp 18–20)
✓ Photograph and plan in situ as required.
2 Don’t selectively collect the bones without zooarchaeological advice. If very large deposits are found, the zooarchaeologist may suggest a recovery strategy.
✓ Whole-earth samples may be needed to recover bones of smaller animals (see also pp 15–17).
✓ Inform the zooarchaeologist before excavating bones used in construction (pit lining, walls, floors): they may need to record some aspects in situ.
Taking samples for bones (see pp 15–17 ) Sampling is important for the recovery of representative assemblages (eg of species, age groups, body parts).
✓ Samples should be whole-earth, ie retain all bones within the sample, unless too fragile. Any bones removed must be identified as from the sample.
✓ Samples for bones may need to be large, for example 100 litres, to recover a big enough assemblage to address the project’s questions.
✓ Feedback on bones from processed samples and hand collection can highlight the need for altering the sampling approach or targeting excavation.
✓ Samples may also be needed where abundant, articulated or small animal bones are seen in situ. Seek advice from the project specialist.
This supplement accompanies and cross-references sections in Baker, P and Worley, F 2019 Animal Bones and Archaeology: Recovery to archive. Swindon: Historic England. Images: S2.1 Historic England; S2.2 F Worley; S2.3 Wessex Archaeology; S2.4 T O’Connor. Additional contributors and acknowledgements are provided in the main document.
Design by Historic England. © Historic England. Product Code: HE0001
