Identifying, Analyzing, and Applying Faunal Data Recording
- This purchase is for two-month access to a past online seminar recording, not a registration for a live event.
- You will receive an email from SAA staff with a link to view the recording.
- Group registrations allow for an unlimited number of
participants in your group.
- Please allow one business day to complete this transaction.
- *This seminar discusses human remains and shows line drawings and photographs of human skeletal models.
Presenter(s)
Presenter(s)
Arianne Boileau, PhD, RPA, Mount Royal University
Arianne Boileau is an Assistant Professor of Anthropological Archaeology at Mount Royal University. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida, an M.A. in Anthropology from Trent University, and a B.A. in Archaeology from Université Laval. With over 12 years of experience as a zooarchaeologist, Dr. Boileau has conducted research in Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, France, and the United States. Her research focuses on understanding how and why Indigenous peoples procured, used, and discarded animal resources in the pre-Columbian and post-European contact Mesoamerica. Her current project investigates the sustainability of Indigenous practices related to freshwater turtles in Mesoamerica, employing zooarchaeology, ancient DNA analysis, isotope analysis, and ethnohistory. Her broader research interests include quantification methods in zooarchaeology, the development of socio-political complexity, and the resilience of socio-ecological systems.
Course Description
Course Description
This seminar is intended for archaeologists at any career stage who want to learn the fundamentals of zooarchaeological identification and how to incorporate zooarchaeology into broader research projects. While faunal identifications can vary by region, we will cover the basics of identifying major animal classes—such as mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish—in ways that can be applied across different contexts. We will also discuss key distinctions between human and non-human animal remains. The seminar will provide an overview of the main research questions that zooarchaeology can address and offer guidance on integrating zooarchaeological methods into larger projects. This will include a review of excavation and laboratory procedures that ensure the effective recovery and analysis of animal remains.
Course Objectives
Course Objectives
- Understand the principles of zooarchaeological research.
- Distinguish among the main classes of animal skeletons.
- Integrate zooarchaeology into the design of a larger archaeological project.