ABSTRACT
Chapter 11 discusses the ways in which archaeologists reconstruct ancient subsistence. To establish entire ancient diets is often near-impossible, except when isotopic analysis on bones can be used or human coprolites are available. We describe zooarchaeology, the study of animal bones, the identication of animals, the study of butchering methods, and comparing different assemblages. Next, we turn to botanical remains and otation methods before briey surveying ways of studying birds, sh, and mollusks. We also assess ways in which rock art can throw light on ancient subsistence.
