ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines how the zooarchaeological record is formed and how zooarchaeologists extract meaning from it by ‘identification’ and recording of physical remains and analysis and interpretation of recorded data. It focuses on macroscopic rather than microscopic and biomolecular analyses of faunal remains, partly because the former dominate study of the consumption of deadstock, while the latter primarily shed light on the husbandry of livestock. Two hypothetical examples, representing contrasting forms of animal consumption, may illustrate the nature of zooarchaeological formation processes and the potential and limitations of macroscopic study of skeletal remains. Animal bones are far more ubiquitous, and also more amenable to quantitative analysis, than all other sources for Roman consumption of animal food resources. Zooarchaeological data and methods are revolutionising our understanding of Roman animal management, distribution and consumption, and of the contribution of animal produce to Roman nutrition, cuisine and social dynamics.
