Integrating taphonomy into the practice of zooarchaeology in China |
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| Authors: | YM Lam Katherine Brunson Richard Meadow Jing Yuan |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel;2. Oranim Academic College, Kiryat Tivon, Israel;1. Centre for Chinese Studies, University of Sydney, Australia;2. Centre for Classical and Near Eastern Studies, University of Sydney, Australia;1. University of Sydney, China Studies Centre and Centre for Classical and Near Eastern Studies of Australia, NSW 2006, Australia;2. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan;3. Archaeological Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Science, 27 Wangfujing Dajie, Beijing 100010, China;1. Department of Anthropology, City University of New York Graduate Center and NYCEP, 365 Fifth Ave., Room 6402, New York, NY 10016, USA;2. Department of Anthropology, Queens College, City University of New York and NYCEP, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367, USA;3. Wolf Conservation Center, P.O. Box 421, South Salem, NY 10590, USA |
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| Abstract: | With the study of faunal remains (zooarchaeology) emerging as an increasingly prominent component of archaeological studies in China, the importance of studying processes of assemblage formation and preservation (taphonomy) is becoming evident. Remains of animals recovered from an archaeological site are a biased sample of the assemblage that was originally deposited because certain animal parts preserve better than others. Important characteristics of faunal assemblages, such as skeletal element representation and age profiles, can be affected by differential preservation caused by taphonomic agents, both cultural or natural. One primary goal of taphonomic studies is to provide an understanding of differential preservation of bone elements, allowing archaeologists to make more accurate assessments concerning the exploitation of different animal species by past peoples. Recent studies of the faunal assemblages from the Early Paleolithic site of Xujiayao and the Neolithic site of Taosi, both in Shanxi Province, provide examples of the effects that differential preservation can have on archaeological interpretations of skeletal element representation and age profiles, respectively. These examples illustrate how an understanding of taphonomy is critical to the future practice of zooarchaeology in China. |
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