A Model of Body Part Representation in Archaeozoological Samples

Summary

The distribution body parts of animals consumed at a site is an important variable in understanding human subsistence behavior. I present a model of expected body part distributions for meat versus non-meat bearing elements that assumes whole bodies are transported to and deposited in a site. The model is based on observed fragmentation at three sites in the Middle East and Egypt: Hallan Chemi (Turkey), Farukhabad (Iran) and Heit el-Ghurab (Giza, Egypt). The model predicts that 33% of all limb elements should be from meat-bearing bones if whole bodies are being butchered on the site. Variations from this expectation must be understood in terms of human behavior, taphonomy, and/or excavation tactics. Examples of body part variation within two sites, Abydos (Egypt) and Abu Duwari (Iraq) are presented and explanations offered.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

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