ABSTRACT
This chapter indicates some of the problems, both in identification and interpretation, which arise when fish remains are studied as part of an environmental archaeological project. Fish remains have a great deal to contribute to the field of environmental archaeology. The interpretation of a well-preserved and carefully recovered collection of fish remains from northern Europe may require comparative series of skeletons of up to 50 species of potential food fish. Modified scales of bony fishes and the specialised dermal denticles of cartilaginous fishes, especially the sharks, are also capable of identification usually to species. Fishes are remarkable amongst vertebrate animals in that they have the capacity of sustained, though lessening, and growth throughout their lives if sufficient food and living space are available. The literature of fishery biology is enriched by numerous papers on the difficulties encountered by workers attempting to study the age of fish from scales and otoliths.
