Animal bones are one of the most abundant types of evidence found in archaeological sites dating from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. They can give us a striking insight into the economy and way of life of people in the distant past. The Archaeology of Animal Bones offers a lucid introduction to the principles and methods involved in the study of this vital category of archaeological material. It also provides important information for archaeologists seeking to understand how bones can shed light on the relationship between humans and animals.

The book begins with a close analysis of bone itself, its form and composition, and the archaeological imprints left by the processes of life, death, and decomposition. The author goes on to look at how bone is recovered from archaeological sites, examined, described, and identified. But the bulk of the book is devoted to the interpretation of the bone fragments, which can tell us much about the animals themselves�their health, growth, diet, injuries, and age at death. This archaeological evidence is then related to the culture and economy of people in the past. In particular, the book shows how information derived from bones can reveal to us the hunting and fishing activities of prehistoric communities, and it sheds fresh light on the controversial topic of animal domestication. The final chapter investigates the insights that animal bones can provide into the complex urban societies of medieval and later periods.

The Archaeology of Animal Bones supplies in a single volume a much-needed critical review of this quickly developing field of research. It will appeal to those involved in archaeology and to anyone intrigued by the re-creation of long-lost worlds from what may seem the most insignificant fragments.