On the Methodology of Faunal Analysis

1973 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald K. Grayson
Keyword(s):  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Faunal Analysis ◽  
Reliable Analysis ◽  
Animal Remains ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Minimum Numbers ◽  
Faunal Studies ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Proper Unit

AbstractAlthough faunal analysis has a long history in archaeological studies, little emphasis has been placed upon the development of methodologies which would allow the valid and reliable analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites. The most crucial decision which a faunal analyst must make as regards the statistical manipulation of his data concerns the proper unit to use in that manipulation. The 2 units which seem to have gained most popularity in faunal studies are discussed, as are the generally non-comparable results which stem from the various ways in which 1 of these units—the minimum number of individuals—has been applied. Finally, suggestions for the standardization of the use of minimum numbers in faunal analysis are made.

Minimum Numbers and Sample Size in Vertebrate Faunal Analysis

1978 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald K. Grayson
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Faunal Analysis ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Minimum Numbers ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
The Relationship

Of the measures currently available for quantifying the abundance of taxa within archaeological and paleontological vertebrate faunas, the minimum number of individuals per taxon is most frequently employed. This paper explores the relationship between the minimum number of individuals (MNI) calculated for a given taxon and the number of specimens (E) from which these values were calculated. Several approaches for controlling for the complex interrelationships between MNI and E are advanced and discussed.

Weighing vs. Counting: Measurement Reliability and the California School of Midden Analysis

1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger D. Mason ◽  
Mark L. Peterson ◽  
Joseph A. Tiffany
Keyword(s):  
University Of California ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Measurement Reliability ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Faunal Studies ◽  
The University ◽  
Number Of Individuals

The California School of Midden Analysis represents a long-standing tradition of using weight, rather than minimum number of individuals (MNI), to analyze shell recovered from archaeological sites in California. This method originated at the University of California, Berkeley, in the early twentieth century and continues to the present, in spite of the advent of counting measures such as MNI and NISP (number of identified specimens) in faunal studies. We argue that MNI estimates are more reliable than weight as a measure of taxonomic abundance for most research issues being addressed with California shell data. Examples using both weight and MNI measures for shell from California coastal sites produced divergent results. This disparity shows that weight measures produce potentially misleading interpretations regarding the importance of marine habitats exploited and the diet of the site’s occupants.

On the subsistence practices of the Shi’erqiao Culture: focused on zooarchaeology

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunyu He
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Subsistence Strategies ◽  
Chengdu Plain ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Animal Remains ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Archaeological Cultures ◽  
Number Of Individuals

AbstractThrough the analyses of the number of identified specimens (NISP), minimum number of individuals (MNI) and estimation of meat available from the animal remains unearthed from representative sites of the Chengdu Plain Type and Eastern Chongqing Type of the Shi’erqiao Culture, this paper discusses the subsistence strategy of this culture. The results show that the meat resources of the Chengdu Plain Type were mainly domesticated animals, while those of the Eastern Chongqing Type were mainly hunted animals. This paper draws the conclusion that in the early stage of human civilization, the subsistence strategies of different types of the same archaeological culture might be different, while those of different archaeological cultures might be similar; the factors influencing the subsistence strategies are mainly the natural environment, regional economic traditions, and population pressures.

NISP vs. MNI in Quantification of Body-Part Representation

1993 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Marshall ◽  
Tom Pilgram
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Body Part ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Neolithic Site ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Pastoral Neolithic ◽  
Number Of Individuals

In an effort to understand the relative advantages and drawbacks of the minimum number of individuals (MNI) and number of identifiable specimens (NISP) for quantifying body-part representation in faunas from archaeological sites, we analyzed relations among NISP, MNI, fragmentation, and bulk density in the fauna from Ngamuriak, a Kenyan pastoral Neolithic site. Our findings suggest that MNI is at least as sensitive as NISP to effects of fragmentation. While MNI decreases with increasing fragmentation, NISP moves in two directions with fragmentation, increasing at low levels of fragmentation and decreasing at high levels of fragmentation. In addition, MNI appears more sensitive than NISP to the relative identifiability of different body parts. We believe MNI may be a less representative descriptor of relative element frequency than NISP in highly fragmented assemblages.

Butchering and marrow fracturing as a taphonomic factor in archaeological deposits

Paleobiology ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanna Noe-Nygaard
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Faunal Remains ◽  
Bone Material ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Bone Fragments ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Degree Of Fragmentation

A major aim of the analysis of faunal remains from archaeological sites is the reconstruction of the palaeoecology of early man. Since taphonomic work must precede palaeoecological work, theories concerning the palaeoecology of early man would benefit from firmly based taphonomic studies of the archaeological deposits. One of the numerous taphonomic factors to be considered is the bone fragmentation produced by early man.The degree of bone fragmentation in a deposit uninfluenced by human factors is an expression of the resistance of the various bones to mechanical and chemical decomposition before and during burial. Thus, the degree of fragmentation where human factors are predominant should provide an illustration of man as a taphonomic factor. In both cases the degree of fragmentation may be used as an indicator of the degree of taphonomic overprint.Examination of bone material from four West European Mesolithic sites (all bog deposits), Star Carr 7200 ± 120 B.C., Kongemosen 6600 ± 100 B.C., Præstelyngen 3200 ± 100 B.C., and Muldbjerg I 2900 ± 80 B.C., reveals differences in marrow fracturing techniques. Furthermore, the different techniques result in different numbers of fragments for the same type of bone. Comparison of faunas from different sites based on the number of bone fragments must therefore be preceded by analysis of the marrow fracturing techniques used at the various sites. The number of fragments per estimated minimum number of individuals should indicate the degree of taphonomic loss.The various types of marrow fracturing found seem to belong to cultures at different levels of technical development. Thus, it may be possible within a limited area such as northern Europe to establish a chronology using marrow fracturing type as one of the ecostratigraphic tools.

On the Remains of Fish Scales from Archaeological Sites

1974 ◽  
Vol 39 (4Part1) ◽  
pp. 557-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard W. Casteel
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Fish Scales ◽  
The Past ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Number Of Individuals

AbstractA detailed discussion is presented of the archaeological value of the scale remains of fish. The various forms of scales are presented along with a discussion of the morphological characteristics of these elements. A brief summary of the past uses to which fish scales have been put within archaeology is presented and the use of fish scales to estimate the size of the fish and the minimum number of individuals represented, as well as their use as seasonal dating devices is also discussed in detail. In addition, the limitations of scale remains in each of the above areas of interpretation are also presented.

Weighing and Counting Shell: A Response to Glassow and Claassen

2000 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 757-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger D. Mason ◽  
Mark L. Peterson ◽  
J. A. Tiffany
Keyword(s):  
Southern California ◽  
Repetitive Elements ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Valid Measure ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Weight Method ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Glassow discusses several "problems" with the use of minimum number of individuals (MNI) in archaeological shellfish analysis, including the difficulty of identifying non-repetitive elements (NRE) to species level for several taxa. However, these problems, especially fragmentation, are more critical for the weight method than for MNI estimates. We have successfully identified thousands of NRE for all species common in southern California coastal archaeological sites. We also suggest that a measure, such as MNI, that provides estimates of numbers of individuals is a more reliable and valid measure with which to address most research questions. The weight method only provides a measure of the weight of some of the fragments from the shells of those individuals.

scholarly journals Non-scientific Archaeological Recovery of Human Remains from an Ancient Well in India

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Sehrawat ◽  
R. K. Pathak
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Scientific Discipline ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Forensic Archaeology ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Forensic archaeology is a scientific discipline that can expose past crime(s) against humanity by recovering the bodies of victims and meticulously documenting any proof of torture, trauma or human rights violations. Archaeological recovery of human remains deposited in pre-existing structures or features such as wells, potholes, natural ravines, roadside trenches, sewage systems etc., have been reported from many sites worldwide. In April, 2014, thousands of human bones, teeth as well as a number of personal effects including coins, medals and beaded armbands were unscientifically excavated from a well—presumably dating from the nineteenth century—located under a religious structure in the heart a North Indian town. Without the assistance of scientific expertise or local administration, locals excavated the remains to verify whether the well containing human bones was a result of an event which had been documented in the written records. The unscientific excavation by locals with no formal qualifications in archaeology or anthropology, resulted in the enhanced damage and commingling of human remains limiting information on the minimum number of individuals, age-at-death, sex, pathological conditions, trauma, etc. which may have assisted in identification and a stronger corroboration with the historical records. This paper aims to emphasize that if scientific protocols had been followed—including the participation of a multidisciplinary excavation team with experts from diverse scientific disciplines like forensic archaeology, anthropology, geology, skeletal biology, history, forensic medicine etc.—data and context would have been greatly enhanced and information may have been obtained about the deceased individuals and whether they were the victims of crimes dating to the nineteenth century.

scholarly journals Osteoarkeologi Rangka Manusia Situs Leang Kado’4, Maros, Sulawesi Selatan

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-160
Author(s):  
Fakhri Fakhri ◽  
Delta Bayu Murti Murti ◽  
Budianto Hakim Hakim ◽  
Muhammad Nur Nur ◽  
Akin Duli Duli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Karst Area ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Human Skeletal Remains ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Analytical Process ◽  
South Sulawesi ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Minimum Number Of Individuals ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Pembahasan utama dalam penelitian ini adalah uraian osteoarkeologis terkait temuan rangka manusia situs prasejarah Leang Kado‘ 4 di kawasan karst Simbang, Maros, Sulawesi Selatan. Sebagai bagian dari kajian bioarkeologi, uraian ini meliputi penentuan jenis kelamin, usia kematian, rata-rata tinggi badan, afinitas ras, dan jumlah individu minimal yang ada di Situs Leang Kado‘ 4 sebagai bagian aktivitas penguburan. Metode penelitian menerapkan langkah kerja analisis dalam kajian bioarkeologi yang juga diterapkan dalam disiplin antropologi ragawi. Langkah kerja analisis tersebut, meliputi: identifikasi, pengukuran, komparasi, dan penghitungan estimasi jumlah individu minimal dalam sebuah himpunan data.  Penelitian ini berkesimpulan bahwa sisa rangka manusia di situs Leang Kado‘ 4 memiliki kesamaan dengan dua jenis ras manusia, yaitu ras populasi Sahul-Pacific dikenal pula sebagai Australo-Papuan atau Australomelanesoid dan ras populasi Asia atau Mongoloid. Hadirnya data ini diharapkan menjadi salah satu bahan pertimbangan rekomendasi kebijakan berwawasan pembangunan karakter budaya bangsa yang mengedepankan kebhinekaan asal usul dengan data temuan rangka manusia.    This research aims to provide an osteoarchaeological analysis of the human skeletons found at the prehistoric site of Leang Kado‘ 4 in Simbang karst area, Maros, South Sulawesi. As a part of bioarchaeological studies, the analysis included the determination of sex, age at death, average height, racial affinity, and the minimum number of individuals at the site as part of the burial activities. The research employed the analytical process that is commonly carried out in bioarchaeological and physical anthropological studies. The analytical process consists of identification, measurement, comparison, and estimation of the minimum number of individuals in a data set.  It is concluded that the human skeletal remains at Leang Kado‘ 4 site share several similarities with two human races, i.e. Sahul-Pacific race also known as Australo-Papuan or Australomelanesoid and Asian or Mongoloid race. It is expected that all this data can be used as a base for developing policies oriented to the development of the national character and culture by emphisizing the diversity of the people’s origins, which is supported by data on human skeletal remains.

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