On the Paramount Importance of Adequate Comparative Collections and Recovery Techniques in the Identification and Interpretation of Vertebrate Archaeofaunas: A Reply to Vale & Gargett (2002)

Abstract

Neotropical zooarchaeology has slowly developed as a defined area of study over the last few decades of the 20th century. Two primary issues have retarded this development, the lack of fine-grained recovery methods and the virtual absence of suitable comparative collections. This paper examines these issues and suggests ways to improve the identification and interpretation of tropical archaeofaunas, especially archaeological ichthyofaunas. Several problematic issues concerning comparative collection development and use, assemblage interpretation, and screen size bias raised by Vale & Gargett (2002) are discussed. Several suggestions concerning cooperative collection development and rigorous analysis of tropical archaeofaunas are proposed.