Archeozoology is the science dealing with the identification and interpretation of animal remains from archaeological sites. The study of faunal remains provides information about climate and environment in the past, as well as indications on the variation of human behavior from prehistory to modern times, regarding subsistence strategies, economy and in general exploitation of animal resources.
The main topics will be:

1) Introduction to Archeozoology, Taphonomy and their applications to archaeology.
2) General concepts about Palaeontology and Palaeoecology.
3) Summary of climate variations and geology and palaeontology of the Quaternary period.
4) Structure of bones, teeth, ivory, horn, etc. Vertebrate anatomy.
5) Methodologies for the analysis of osteological remains; identification of skeletal element and species, bone measurements, quantification of the samples, determination of the age at death; taphonomic investigations.
6) Methodologies for the recovery, preservation and conservation of osteological remains from archaeological sites.
7) Interpretation of faunal data: palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, modes of accumulation of the archaeological deposit, hunting and herding strategies, use of secondary products, seasonal exploitation of resources, butchering and food processing techniques, bone manufacturing for the production of tools and art objects, ritual and cultural uses of animals.
8) The use of advanced technologies in the analysis of osteological remains: 3D digital microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, isotopic analysis, genetic analysis.
9) Use of actualistic investigations for the interpretation of faunal data: ethnographic analogies, information on animal behavior and physiology, experimental approach.
10) Examples of archaeozoological evidence and interpretative models of archaeological sites from prehistoric to modern times.
11) Analysis and interpretation of archaeozoological samples.

During the course, following the Covid-19 regulations, practical activities on archaeological materials will be carried out.

Manuali:
DRIESCH von Den A., 1976. A guide to the measurement of animal bones from archaeological sites, Peabody Museum Bulletins 1, Cambridge: Peabody Museum Press.
SCHMIDT E., 1972. Atlas of Animal Bones For Prehistorians, Archaeologist an Quaternary Geologist. Elsevier Publishing Company.

Manuali (uno a scelta):
DAVIS S.,1987 The Archaeology of Animals. New Haven, Yale University Press. (consigliato per gli studenti di archeologia preistorica e orientale).
O’CONNOR, T. 2000 The Archaeology of animal bones, Sutton Publishing, Stroud. (consigliato per gli studenti di archeologia classica e medievale).
DE GROSSI MAZZORIN J., 2008 Archeozoologia. Lo studio dei resti animali in archeologia. Editori Laterza, Roma-Bari. (consigliato per tutti i curricula, ad integrazione dei manuali su indicati).

Testi integrativi
BROUGHTON J.M., MILLER S.D., 2016. Zooarchaeology and field ecology: a photographic atlas. University of Utah Press.
FERNANDEZ-JALVO J., ANDREWS P., 2016. Atlas of Taphonomic Identifications. 1001+ Images of Fossil and Recent Mammal Bone Modification. Springer ed.
LYMAN R.L., 1994. Vertebrate Taphonomy. Cambridge University Press.

Ulteriore bibliografia e supporti didattici saranno messi a disposizione nel corso delle lezioni.