When we talk about unearthing the past, we usually think of pottery, coins, or crumbling walls, but there's a fascinating world that sometimes goes unnoticed: animal remains. archaeozoology It is precisely responsible for analyzing those bones and teeth that are forgotten in the strata, turning them into key pieces to understand how our ancestors lived and how they related to nature.
It's not just about identifying what animal it was, but about reading the story those remains tell. From the domestication of species and relationship between humans and domestic fauna From diets of millennia past, this discipline allows us to reconstruct social and economic scenarios that would otherwise remain a mystery. It is, essentially, the bridge that connects animal biology with human history.
Foundations and areas of study of the discipline
To get into the subject, it is first necessary to know that archaeozoology is not a linear path, but rather encompasses various Fields of applicationIts main objective is the study of faunal remains in archaeological contexts, which allows for the analysis of everything from resource management in hunter-gatherer societies to the evolution of livestock farming in the Mediterranean.
The analysis doesn't stop at the surface; it delves deeper into the formation of setsdistinguishing between natural agents that degrade bone and anthropogenic agents, that is, those caused by humans. This is fundamental to knowing whether an animal died of natural causes or was processed for human consumption, for example, by analyzing the animals that eat meat in the food chain.
The technical process: from the field to the laboratory
The work begins long before reaching the analysis table. In the excavation phase, it is vital to apply recovery protocols Strict measures are in place to ensure that the remains are not lost or damaged. Conservation at the site is the first critical step; if it is not done properly, the information will be lost.
Once the materials arrive at the laboratory, the more technical part begins. The specialists perform the anatomical and specific identificationdetermining which body part the fragment belongs to and which animal species it corresponds to. In addition, a demographic profile is developed to understand the sex and age of the individuals, which gives clues as to whether the animals were raised for meat, milk or wool.
- Systematic recovery and conservation at the site.
- Analysis of taphonomy and alteration agents.
- Detailed taxonomic and anatomical identification.
- Calculation of demographic profiles and quantification of data.
This whole process culminates in the data processing in specialized databases, allowing the quantification of the remains to be transformed into solid historical interpretations through the study of practical cases.
Advanced research and new methodologies
The discipline has evolved tremendously and no longer involves simply examining bones with a magnifying glass. Currently, various tools are used. cutting-edge techniques such as stable isotope analysis and mass spectrometry (ZooMS), which allow us to know where the animal came from or what it ate exactly.
They are also exploring the biomechanics and bone microstructure to formulate more precise hypotheses about animal behavior. These tools are essential for understanding complex processes, such as the consolidation of peasant societies in the Mediterranean basin or the exploitation of coastal resources in remote times.
In centers of excellence, such as the laboratory at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​academic training is intertwined with real-world practice. Students not only learn the theory, but also get hands-on experience. royal archaeological sites, such as the Neolithic site of "la Dou" in La Garrotxa, where they apply live field methods.
Training in this area is interdisciplinary and attracts diverse profiles, from students of Bioarchaeology and History even professionals in preventive archaeology. The goal is for any expert to know how to maximize the interpretive value of skeletal remains, whether in an academic setting or in an emergency intervention.
The field of archaeozoology allows us to decipher the interaction between humans and their animal environment, integrating from the taxonomic identification from basic to the use of molecular technologies to understand domestication and the ancient economy.