#FindsFriday Animal bone

This #FindsFriday we are looking at animal bone!🐾

As one of our most common find types we see it almost every day, although it’s not as glamorous as something like a coin hoard, it can tell us a huge amount about the past!

After excavation and washing, we quantify our animal bone assemblages to establish the total number of identifiable individuals as well as identifying where/when all this material sits within the site’s timeline (established primarily through the pottery assemblage). We also identify the species found – usually the trio of pigs, cows and sheep/goats (these two are hard to tell apart!). However, sometimes we also find evidence for cats and dogs among others. All this information becomes a key part of understanding the site’s use🐄🐖🐑🐕🐈

We are able to make assumptions about the use of space through bone concentration or through identifying what species is most prominent in an assemblage (is this enclosure used for pigs or sheep?). Additionally, the amount of bone itself gives us a suggestion of the concentration of people in the area, more bone dated to the early Roman period vs the later can suggest a drop off in population within the vicinity of the site.

Through examination of individual bones, such as the example pictured, we are able to see butchery methods (see the cut marks?) and identify if the animals represent those slaughtered for meat or those kept for other purposes👀

Written by CAT Staff Xander