A comparative study of faunal assemblages from British Iron Age sites
The broad aim of this thesis is to further understanding of British Iron Age animal husbandry regimes by undertaking a comparative study of faunal assemblages. More specifically, this involves development of a uniform methodology for comparing published faunal data in order to recognise inter and intra-regional patterns of animal husbandry. Lack of uniformity in methods of recording and presenting faunal data, together with variation in the quality and quantity of information published in reports, serves as a barrier to systematic quantitative comparison. This thesis therefore seeks to develop methods of comparison which utilise the most commonly available forms of faunal data, or convert different forms of data into a single comparable format, in order that inter and intra-regional analyses of the widest possible dataset can be undertaken. To ensure viable comparisons unaffected by small sample bias, only those sites with total cattle, sheep and pig assemblages of NISP>300 or MNI>30 are included in this study. Analyses concentrate on the three main domestic species (cattle, sheep, and pig) which comprise the bulk of all faunal remains recovered from excavations of British Iron Age sites, and utilise three
Hambleton, Ellen
Archaeology
A comparative study of faunal assemblages from British Iron Age sites. The broad aim of this thesis is to further understanding of British Iron Age animal husbandry regimes by undertaking a comparative study of faunal assemblages. More specifically, this involves development of a uniform methodology for comparing published faunal data in order to recognise inter and intra-regional patterns of animal husbandry. Lack of uniformity in methods of recording and presenting faunal data, together with variation in the quality and quantity of information published in reports, serves as a barrier to systematic quantitative comparison. This thesis therefore seeks to develop methods of comparison which utilise the most commonly available forms of faunal data, or convert different forms of data into a single comparable format, in order that inter and intra-regional analyses of the widest possible dataset can be undertaken. To ensure viable comparisons unaffected by small sample bias, only those sites with total cattle, sheep and pig assemblages of NISP>300 or MNI>30 are included in this study. Analyses concentrate on the three main domestic species (cattle, sheep, and pig) which comprise the bulk of all faunal remains recovered from excavations of British Iron Age sites, and utilise three
comparative_study faunal_assemblage british_iron_age site broad_aim british_iron_age animal_husbandry undertake comparative_study faunal_assemblage specifically involve development uniform compare_publish faunal_data order recognise inter intra_regional pattern animal_husbandry lack uniformity method record present faunal_data together variation quality_quantity information publish_report serf barrier systematic quantitative comparison therefore_seek develop method comparison utilise commonly available form faunal_data convert different_form data single comparable format order inter intra_regional analysis wide possible dataset undertaken ensure viable comparison unaffected small_sample bias sit total cattle_sheep pig assemblage include study analyses concentrate three_main domestic specie cattle_sheep pig comprise bulk faunal_remain recovered excavation british_iron_age site utilise