In Their Elements: Geometric Morphometrics, Stable Isotope Analysis, and Multispecies Theory in Chesapeake Zooarchaeology

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Historical Archaeology of Chesapeake Landscapes in Transition", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Human-animal relationships are entangled, with the rhythm of our daily practice structured by the needs of nonhuman companions. Similar rhythms existed in the past – daily rhythms of animal care and seasonal/yearly rhythms involving exploitation of resources. Alongside standard zooarchaeological methods, which largely focus on the animal at death, I use geometric morphometrics and stable isotope analysis to investigate changes to dietary intake and mobility in individuals, elucidating the lived experiences of animals to explore human-animal-environmental interactions, livestock management practices, and the impacts of Eurasian species on Indigenous Chesapeake landscapes. Using archaeofaunal remains as proxy data reflects human adaptation in the region by placing quantifiable aspects of the archaeological record into conversation with less tangible aspects of animal-human-environmental interactions. These methods attempt to move zooarchaeological interpretation beyond subsistence practices to illuminate routine practice and the use of spaces and boundaries, framed by multispecies theory considering animals as agents of change.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025   •
• Historical Archaeology of Chesapeake Landscapes in Transition

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow