ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the number of animal bone reports that have appeared in the archaeological literature. The chief aim of the osteological report should be the identification of as many of the bones, and fragments of bones, as possible into their anatomical elements and into zoological species. Standard measurements of all measurable bones should be taken. The minimum number of individuals of each species is usually calculated using the most frequently occurring bone element. The interpretation of animal bone material should not be attempted unless and until all the basic data has been evaluated and the findings made available. The chapter discusses the environmental significance of the species present, especially of the small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, in conjunction with the results obtained from the invertebrates, and from other sciences. The significance of vertical stratigraphy, almost always equivalent to change in time, is implicit throughout archaeology.
