Vol. 33 No. 1 (2024)
Articles

Comparison of two rapid zooarchaeological recording systems and their interpretative results through Multivariate Presence. Advantages and disadvantages

Published January 11, 2024

Keywords:

zooarcheology, recording methods, presence multivariate, arqueometry, bronze age, la mancha occidental, motilla del azuer
How to Cite
Beltrán Ruiz, A., & Arenas Gallego, L. M. (2024). Comparison of two rapid zooarchaeological recording systems and their interpretative results through Multivariate Presence. Advantages and disadvantages. Archaeofauna, 33(1), 139–158. https://doi.org/10.15366/archaeofauna2024.33.1.008

Abstract

This paper compares two methods of rapid processing of the taxonomic record with a third, more exhaustive and slower method, in order to check to what extent their use may be appropriate in the absence of time. The results obtained on a sample from the site of Motilla del Azuer belonging to the Bronze Age of La Mancha suggest that there are variations according to the methodology applied and that the size of the species and their remains are an intrinsic part of this variation. Multivariate Presentiality (MVP) is also included as a tool to minimise the over-representations that can generate basic parameters such as: Number of Individual Specimen, Minimum Number of Individuals and Weight when we base the interpretation on only one of these in isolation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aranda Jiménez, G.; Fernández, S.; Haro Navarro, M.; Molina González, F.; Nájera Colino, T. & Sánchez Romero, M. 2008: Water control and cereal management on the Bronze Age Iberian Peninsula: la Motilla del Azuer. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 27(3): 241-259. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0092.2008.00306.x

Beltrán Ruiz, A. 2023: Aproximación arqueozoológica y análisis isotópico en la Edad del Bronce en Castilla la Mancha Occidental: La Motilla del Azuer. Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Granada, Granada.

Davis, S.J.M. 1972: Faunal remains of upper paleolithic sites at En-Gev. Unpublished M. Sc. thesis, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

— 1974: Animal remains from the Kebaran site of ein Gev I, Jordan valley, Israel. Paléorient: 453-462.

— 1992: A rapid method for recording information about mammal bones from archaeological sites. London Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, Ancient Monuments Laboratory report *19/9.

Davis, S. & Payne, S. 1993: A barrow full of cattle skulls. Antiquity 67(254): 12-22. DOI: 10.1017/S0003598X00045026

Grayson, D.K. 2014: Quantitative zooarchaeology: topics in the analysis of archaelogical faunas. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

Lyman, R.L. 2008: Quantitative Paleozoology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

— 2019: A critical review of four efforts to resurrect MNI in zooarchaeology. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory 26(1): 52-87. DOI: 10.1007/s10816-018-9365-3

Lyman, R.L. & Wolverton, S. 2023: Quantification in Zooarchaeology and Palaeoethno (Archaeo)botany. Handbook of Archaeological Sciences 2: 1211-1225. DOI: 10.1002/9781119592112.ch60

Marom, N. & Bar-Oz, G. 2008: “Measure for measure”: a taphonomic reconsideration of the Kebaran site of Ein Gev I, Israel. Journal of Archaeological Science 35(2): 214-227. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2007.03.004

Morlan, R.E. 1994: Oxbow bison procurement as seen from the Harder Site, Saskatchewan. Journal of Archaeological Science 21(6): 757-777. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jasc.1994.1074

Nájera, T. & Molina, F. 2004a: La Edad del Bronce en La Mancha Occidental: problemática y perspectivas de la investigación. En: Hernández Alcaraz, L. & Hernández Pérez, M.S. (eds.): 1ª Jornadas La Edad del Bronce en tierras valencianas y zonas limítrofes: 531-540. Instituto Alicantino de Cultura Juan Gil-Albert, Alicante.

Nájera, T. & Molina, F. 2004b: Las Motillas. Un modelo de asentamiento con fortificación central en la llanura de la Mancha. En: García Huerta, M.R. & Morales Hervás, J. (eds.): La Península Ibérica en el II milenio a.C.: Poblados y fortificaciones: 173-214. Colección Humanidades 77. Ediciones de la Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Cuenca.

Nájera, T.; Molina González, F.; Jiménez Brobeil, S.; Sánchez Romero, M.; Al Oumaoui, I.; Aranda Jiménez, G.; Delgado Huerta s, A. & Laffranchi, Z. 2010: La población infantil de la Motilla del Azuer: Un estudio bioarqueológico. Complutum 21(2): 69-102.

Nájera, T.; Jiménez, S.; Molina, F.; Delgado, A. & Laffranchi, Z. 2012: La aplicación de los métodos de la antropología física a un yacimiento arqueológico: la Motilla del Azuer. Cuadernos de Prehistoria y Arqueología de la Universidad de Granada 22: 149-183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30827/cpag.v22i0.2422

Najera, T.; Molina, F.; Cámara, J.A.; Afonso, J.A. & Spaneda, L. 2019: Análisis estadístico de las dataciones radiocarbónicas de la Motilla del Azuer (Daimiel, Ciudad Real). Cuadernos de Prehistoria y Arqueología de la Universidad de Granada 29: 309-351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30827/cpag.v29i0.9780

Reitz, E.J. & Wing, E.S. 2008: Zooarchaeology. 2ª ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.