Biosphere to Lithosphere: New Studies in Vertebrate Taphonomy

Proceedings of the 9th ICAZ Conference, Durham 2002

by Terry P. O'Connor (Editor)

Taphonomic studies are a major methodological advance, the effects of which have been felt throughout archaeology. Zooarchaeologists and archaeobotanists were the first to realise how vital it was to study the entire process of how food enters the archaeological record, and taphonomy brought to a close the era when the study of animal bones and plant remains from archaeological sites were regarded mainly as environmental indicators. This volume is indicative of recent developments in taphonomic studies: hugely diverse research areas are being explored, many of which would have been totally unforeseeable only a quarter of a century ago.

154 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2005

About the author

Terry O'Connor read Archaeology at London University, specialising in field archaeology and the study of animal remains. On completion of a PhD in which sheep featured strongly, he worked at the Environmental Archaeology Unit, University of York for nine years, principally conducting zooarchaeological research on material from York. He then moved to the University of Bradford for a further nine years, teaching zooarchaeology and environmental archaeology.

Terry returned to York in 1999 and intends to stay there.

Reviews

[Lee Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ICAZ 2002 conference proceedings remain a feat of endurance in archaeological publishing that will probably never be repeated. Terry P. O'Connor's volume is a snapshot of taphonomic research (principally but not exclusively) carried out by zooarchaeologists at the turn of the millennium and features rather more variety than many comparable volumes (mainly journal special issues) that have been published since.

Highlights include studies of bird bone modifications (Laroulandie and Bocjenski), reindeer carcass degradation (Pasda), micro-mammal accumulators (Williams), bone burning experiments (Costomagno et al) and diagenesis/weathering (Phoca-Cosmetatou). Mondini, meanwhile, describes differences between the New and Old World when considering carnivores as accumulating agents and Marciniak reminds us that waste disposal is a culturally embedded activity. Other papers explore zooarchaeological case-studies where taphonomic understanding is particularly important.