Animal bones in Australian Archaeology: a field guide to common native and introduces species
ISBN: 9781743324837
Platform/Publisher: JSTOR / Sydney University Press
Digital rights: Users: unlimited; Printing: chapter; Download: chapter



Zooarchaeology is a powerful way of reconstructing the lives of past societies. Through the analysis of animal bones found on a site, zooarchaeologists can uncover important information on the economy, trade, industry, diet, and other fascinating facts about the people who lived there.

Animal Bones in Australian Archaeology is an introductory bone identification manual written for archaeologists working in Australia. This field guide includes 16 species commonly encountered in both Indigenous and historical sites. Using diagrams and flow charts, it walks the reader step-by-step through the bone identification process. Combining practical and academic knowledge, the manual also provides an introductory insight into zooarchaeological methodology and the importance of zooarchaeological research in understanding human behaviour through time.


Melanie Fillios is a consulting archaeologist, faunal analyst and lecturer in archaeology at the University of New England.

Natalie Blake is a consulting archaeologist and a PhD student at the University of Sydney.

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