ZOOARCHAEOLOGY
ANTH 4352-002 (Topics in Archaeology) Fall 2011
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Naomi Cleghorn
Office: UH 421
Email:
Department Phone: 817-272-2661
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday 10 – 11 am, or by appointment
CLASS MEETS: Monday and Wednesday 4:00 – 5:20 pm in University Hall room 468
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Zooarchaeology is the study of animal remains (primarily bones, teeth, and shells) from archaeological contexts. The goal of most zooarchaeological studies is to determine how animals fit into human economic and ecological strategies. Zooarchaeological research is therefore applicable in virtually all archaeological contexts (as long as animal remains are preserved) and is an integral component of archaeological analysis.
This course introduces students to the important issues and analytical techniques of zooarchaeology, including taphonomic processes (that is, how faunal assemblages are formed and altered), quantification of skeletal elements, distinctions between major taxonomic groups, season of death, interpretation of mortality profiles, application of optimal foraging theory, and biometric data analysis. Laboratory sessions complement lectures and provide hands-on instruction in skeletal identification. Students learn how to identify bones and teeth, how to distinguish between some major taxonomic groups, and how to identify evidence of bone alteration by various taphonomic processes (i.e., butchery, burning, acid dissolution, weathering, and carnivore gnawing). Using modern bone, students work in small groups to simulate and then analyze some of these processes. We also discuss field and laboratory methods, including documentation and conservation.
Because zooarchaeological analysis requires the use of a computer, some lab time may be devoted to the use of several software applications. Students will learn the basics of using a spreadsheet and a database program. (Note: these are basic life skills, and will help you get a job in virtually any field after college!)
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course students should be able to do the following:
- Summarize the major issues in zooarchaeological analysis, including taphonomic processes, methodology, and interpretation.
- Identify skeletal elements, including fragmented bones, from a variety of animals.
- Identify teeth and some bones to taxon.
- Produce basic quantification summaries.
- Identify evidence on animal bones for various taphonomic processes.
Other skills students should acquire:
- Use of a spreadsheet program (Excel) for data analysis and graphing
- Database entry and querying using FileMaker
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Davis, S.J.M. 1987 The Archaeology of Animals. Yale University Press, New Haven.
Lyman, R.L. 1994. Vertebrate Taphonomy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Additional required readings are listed below on the class schedule. These readings can be found on Blackboard.
Multiple osteological guides will be provided in lab and via Blackboard.
REQUIREMENTS & GRADING:
Students are evaluated on the basis of quizzes, laboratory reports, two exams (a midterm and final), and their participation in class as follows:
Requirement / % of GradeAttendance / Participation / 10%
Written lab reports / 20%
Quizzes / 25%
Midterm exam / 20%
Final exam / 25%
ATTENDANCE / PARTICIPATION:
Attendance and punctuality are required and expected in both lecture and lab. If you are either late or absent, you will be counted as absent for that day. You will be allowed two absences over the course of the semester without penalty to your attendance grade. Occasionally students will be asked to complete short, in-class exercises. The completion of these will also count toward the participation grade.
LABORATORY REPORTS:
Students undertake an analytical project using a zooarchaeological assemblage provided by the instructor. Working in small groups, students will collect data, develop analyses, and prepare a report employing key course concepts. (Note: although students will work in groups, they will hand in individual reports). In addition, students will prepare a short analytical report on a modern comparative fauna. Both reports will be due on the last day of class.
TESTS:
There will be 7 short practical quizzes and 2 major exams during the semester. Quizzes will focus on laboratory skills. Exams will include practical identifications, objective questions, and essays.
TEST / DATE (Subject to revision)Quiz 1: Bovid / Cervid whole bones / September 7th
Quiz 2: Landmarks on whole bones / September 14th
Quiz 3: Comparative post-cranial osteology / September 26th
Quiz 4: Comparative cranial and dental anatomy / October 3rd
Quiz 5: Identification of fragmentary remains / October 12th
MIDTERM / October 17th
Quiz 6: Fracture Assessment / October 31st
Quiz 7: Surface Modification / November 9th
Final Exam / December 14th, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
PREREQUISITES:
Previous completion of ANTH 2339 is a required prerequisite, waived only with special permission from the instructor.
COURSE POLICIES
MAKE-UP TEST POLICY:
There are no make-up exams or quizzes, with the exception of the final exam. If emergency circumstances prevent a student from taking the mid-term, those points will be re-distributed to the final exam (making the final worth 45% of the grade). This situation should be avoided at all costs, as it will result in a stressful end to the semester. If a student fails to take the final exam, they should contact the instructor immediately. A make-up test will be offered only in exceptional circumstances, and no make-up test will be offered in the event that the student also failed to take the mid-term exam. In the event that the instructor agrees to offer a make-up final, the student must agree to the schedule set by the instructor.
There are no make-up quizzes. However, the two lowest quiz grades will automatically be dropped.
LATE WORK POLICY:
Assignments are graded down 10% of their value per day after the due date.
ADDITIONAL UTA POLICIES
(as provided by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs):
Academic Integrity:
As a student of the University of Texas at Arlington, you are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Any instance of academic dishonesty will have a significant negative impact on your scholastic record, not to mention your grade in this class. Discipline may include a failing grade together with either suspension or expulsion from the University of Texas. The Board of Regents has defined academic dishonesty as follows: “Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.” (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2).
Drop Policy:
Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently) classes through self-service in MyMav from the beginning of the registration period through the late registration period (through August 31st, 2011). After the late registration period, students must see their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw. Undeclared students must see an advisor in the University Advising Center. Drops can continue through a point two-thirds of the way through the term or session. The last day to drop a class is November 4th, 2011. It is the student's responsibility to officially withdraw if they do not plan to attend after registering. Students will not be automatically dropped for non-attendance. Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be required as the result of dropping classes or withdrawing. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Please inform me if you have a disability requiring special consideration for classes and exams, and provide me with the relevant paperwork during the first two weeks of class. If you need to take any tests or exams in the Office for Students with Disabilities (UH 102), please note that these must be scheduled with both the instructor and that office at least a week in advance. It is possible (and preferable) to schedule all such tests near the beginning of the semester. The University’s policy is as follows:
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of all federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All instructors at UT Arlington are required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Any student requiring an accommodation for this course must provide the instructor with official documentation in the form of a letter certified by the staff in the Office for Students with Disabilities, University Hall 102. Only those students who have officially documented a need for an accommodation will have their request honored. Information regarding diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining disability-based academic accommodations can be found at or by calling the Office for Students with Disabilities at (817) 272-3364.
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At the end of each term, students enrolled in classes categorized as lecture, seminar, or laboratory will be asked to complete an online Student Feedback Survey (SFS) about the course and how it was taught. Instructions on how to access the SFS system will be sent directly to students through MavMail approximately 10 days before the end of the term. UT Arlington’s effort to solicit, gather, tabulate, and publish student feedback data is required by state law; student participation in the SFS program is voluntary.
Final Review Week:
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabus. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week. During this week, classes are held as scheduled. In addition, instructors are not required to limit content to topics that have been previously covered; they may introduce new concepts as appropriate.
LECTURE/LAB SCHEDULE
Week 1:
(M) Aug. 29th:Introduction – why study animals from archaeological contexts?
Read: Davis Introduction and Chapter 1
Grad Reading: Gifford-Gonzalez (in prep) chap 1 and 2
(W) Aug. 31st: Introduction to skeletal anatomy (body plan overview)
Lab: basic skeletal anatomy of bovids/cervids
Read: Lyman chap 4, pp. 70 –87
Davis Chapter 2
Grad Reading: Brown & Gustafson 2000
Week 2:
NO CLASS MONDAY – LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
(W) Sept. 7th: Vertebrate skeletons continued Read: Lyman chap 4 - only pp. 87- 97
Lab: bovid/cervid osteology - bone landmarks Grad Reading: Boessneck 1969Quiz 1: Bovid / Cervid whole bones Olsen 1964, pp. 10-25, 77-79
Zeder & Lapham 2010
Week 3:
(M) Sept. 12th: Introduction to Taphonomy Read: Lyman chap.1
Brain 1981, Introduction
Grad Reading: Lyman chap. 2
(W) Sept. 14th: Taphonomy continued Read: Lyman chap. 3
Lab: Comparative osteology
Quiz 2: Landmarks on whole bones
Week 4:
(M) Sept. 19: Actualistic Studies: Read: Lyman chap 5 – pp. 135 – 150
Experimental Archaeology and EthnoarchaeologyMarean 1995
Grad Reading: Lyman all chap 5
Gifford-Gonzalez 1991
Week 4continued:
(W) Sept. 21: Comparative cranial/dental anatomy Read: Hillson 2005, pages 1 – 19
Lab: Comparative osteology Skim through Hillson’s comparative
dentition pages and refer to these in lab.
Elbroch 2006, pp. 9- 39
Grad Reading: Schmid 1972, pp 76 - 93
Week 5:
(M) Sept. 26: The zooarchaeology of hunting societies and optimal foraging theory
Quiz 3: Comparative post-cranial osteology Read: Davis chap. 5 Smith 1983 pp. 625- 640
Grad reading: all Smith 1983
(W) Sept. 28: Carcass processing strategies and economic goals
Practical butchery processes (meat removal and disarticulation)
and comparison of different processing strategies.
Butchery Lab – Dress Appropriately! Read: Binford 1978, pages 47 – 60
Lyman, chap 8 – only pages 294 – 302
Week 6:
(M) Oct. 3: Mortality and seasonality Read:Davis chap. 4 Quiz 4: Comparative cranial and dental anatomy Lyman chap. 5 – only pp. 114-135 O’Connor 2002
Grad Reading: Bunn & Pickering 2010
Gifford-Gonzalez (in prep) chap. 7
(W) Oct. 5: Lab: Identification of fragmented bones and age estimation
Grad Reading: Grant 1982
Deniz & Payne 1982
Week 7:
(M) Oct. 10:Quantifying skeletal remains
& using analytical spreadsheets to calculate MNE and MAU
Read: Lyman chap. 4 – pp. 97- 113
Grad Reading: Lyman 2008 pp. 21-113 (ch.2 - 3)
(W) Oct. 12: Fragmented bones and comparative osteology review
Quiz 5: Identification of fragmentary remains
Week 8:
(M) Oct. 17MIDTERMWritten exam and bone/tooth identification
(W) Oct. 19Bone processing for marrow and grease Read: Binford 1981, pp 148-177
Lab: Marrow processing Gifford-Gonzalez (in prep), chap. 10
Week 9:
(M) Oct. 24: Understanding Accumulation & Interpreting fragmentation
Lab: analyzing fracture morphology
Read: Lyman chap 6 – pp. 161 – 168 & 189-222
Lyman chap 8 –pp. 315 – 338
Grad reading: All Lyman chap 6
Villa and Mahieu 1991
Binford 1981, Chap. 3 pp. 35 - 42
(Additional Suggested Reading: Binford 1981, all Chapter 3)
(W) Oct. 26Interpretation of bone surface modification 1:
Carnivore damage, marrow processing by hominids, & other taphonomic factors
Lab: Surface modification Read: Blumenschine and Selvaggio, 1988
Lyman chap 9, pp. 354 - 398
Grad reading: Haynes 1983
(Additional Suggested Reading: Abe et al. 2002, Fisher 1995)
Week 10:
(M) Oct. 31 Interpretation of bone surface modification 2:
Cut marks and butchery techniques. Read: Binford, 1981, pages 105 – 148
Quiz 6: Fracture Assessment Lyman chap 8 – only pp. 303 – 315
Grad Reading: Bunn and Kroll 1986
(W) Nov. 2Surface modification and agent of accumulation: experimental studies.
Lab: Surface modification continuedGrad Reading: Blumenschine 1995
Shipman and Rose, 1983
Week 11:
(M) Nov. 7Interpreting body part representation I: Read: Lyman chap 7, pp. 223-234
Processes and mechanics of bone attrition. Lam and Pearson 2005
Short Lab: Review surface modification analysis Marean et al. 1992
Graduate reading: Blumenschine 1986
Marean & Spencer 1991
(Additional Suggested Reading: Cleghorn & Marean 2006)
(W) Nov. 9Opovo Lab Analysis Day 1 Read: Tringham et al. 1985
Quiz 7: Surface Modification
Week 12:
(M) Nov. 14Interpreting body part representation II:
The carcass transport and meat distribution strategies of humans
Read: Marean & Kim 1998
Graduate Reading: Grayson 1989
Marean & Cleghorn 2003
Pickering et al. 2003
(W) Nov. 16 Opovo Lab Analysis Day 2
Week 13:
(M) Nov. 21The zooarchaeology of early domestication Read: Davis chaps. 6 & 7
Zeder 2006
Grad Reading: Zeder 2005
(W) Nov. 23 Opovo Lab Analysis Day 3
Week 14:
(M) Nov. 28Reconstructing past environments Read: Davis chap. 3
Short Lab: Owl Pellets 1: PreparationGrad Reading: Brain 1981, chap.6
(W) Nov. 30Measures of richness and diversity Read: Rietz & Wing 1999, pp.102 – 109
Lab: Owl Pellet 2: Analysis Grad Reading: Lyman 2008, pp. 172 – 213 (ch. 5)
Week 15:
(M) Dec. 5: Zooarchaeology of villages and cities Read: Crabtree 1990
O’Connor 2000, pages 160 – 172
(W) Dec 7: Zooarchaeology and Paleozoology as conservation Read: Lyman 2006
Lab Review
*Opovo and Owl labs due*
Week 16:
FINAL EXAM: December 14th, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Additional Required Readings (Available on Blackboard):
(E) = Everyone Reads this
(G) = Graduate Level Readings
(M) = Bone Manual
(*) = Additional Suggested Readings
(*) Abe, Y., Marean, C.W., Nilssen, P.J., Assefa, Z. and Stone, E.C. 2002 The analysis of cutmarks on archaeofauna: a review and critique of quantification procedures, and a new image-analysis GIS approach. American Antiquity 67(4): 643-664.
(*) Behrensmeyer, A.K. 1978 Taphonomic and ecologic information from bone weathering. Paleobiology 4: 150-162.
(E) Binford, L.R. 1978. Nunamiut Ethnoarchaeology. Academic Press, New York.
(E) Binford, L.R. 1981. Bones: Ancient Men and Modern Myths. Academic Press, New York.
(G) Blumenschine, R.J. 1986 Carcass consumption sequences and the archaeological distinction of scavenging and hunting. Journal of Human Evolution 15: 639-659.
(E) Blumenschine, R.J. 1988. An experimental model of the timing of hominid and carnivore influence on archaeological bone assemblages. Journal of Archaeological Science 15: 483-502.
(G) Blumenschine, R.J. 1995 Percussion marks, tooth marks, and experimental determinations of the timing of hominid and carnivore access to long bones at FLK Zinjanthropus, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution 29:21-51.
(E) Blumenschine, R.J. and M. Selvaggio. 1988 Percussion marks on bone surfaces as a new diagnostic of hominid behavior. Nature 333: 763-765.
(G) Boessneck, J. 1969 Osteological differences between sheep (Ovis aries Linne) and goats (Capra hircus Linne). In: Science in Archaeology, edited by Brothwell, D. and Higgs, E. London: Thames and Hudson, pp. 331-358.
(E) Brain, C.K. 1981 The Hunters or the Hunted? Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
(*) Broughton, J.M. 2002 Prey spatial structure and behavior affect archaeological tests of optimal foraging models: examples from Emoryville Shellmound vertebrate fauna. World Archaeology 34(1): 60-83.
(*) Broughton, J.M. and Grayson, D.K. 1993 Diet Breadth, Numic expansion, and the White Mountains faunas. Journal of Archaeological Science 20: 331-336.