Reimagining Methods in Historical Zooarchaeology: Methods and Themes in Recent Literature

Summary

This poster exhibits a survey of recent (2000-2015) literature on historical zooarchaeology in eastern North America. Emphasizing studies of colonialism and cultural mixture, this survey evaluates ways that historical archaeologists use zooarchaeological data to investigate topics such as human impacts on environments, economic strategies, and the expression of social identities. By focusing on trends in analytical methods and the research questions posed by archaeologists, this survey demonstrates the complex relationship among quantification methods, the subject of research, and theoretical orientation. Results indicate persistent problems and inconsistencies in the ways that historical zooarchaeologists quantify and report data, which lead to difficulties when comparing datasets and, in some cases, substantiating research conclusions. Many recent publications, however, demonstrate an excellent balance between thorough methodology and methodological reporting, the use of multiple quantification techniques, and insightful interpretations of data.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Poster Submission 2016   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 596