Social Zooarchaeology Humans and Animals in Prehistory [Paperback]

The first book to provide a systematic overview of social zooarchaeology, arguing that animals have always played a range of roles in human societies.This is the first book to provide a systematic overview of social zooarchaeology, which takes a holistic view of humananimal relations in the past. Until recently, archaeological analysis of faunal evidence has primarily focused on the role of animals in the human diet and subsistence economy. This book, however, argues that animals have always played many more roles in human societies: as wealth, companions, spirit helpers, sacrificial victims, totems, centerpieces of feasts, objects of taboos, and more. Through exploring the significance of animals to ancient humans, this book provides a richer picture of past societies.This is the first book to provide a systematic overview of social zooarchaeology, which takes a holistic view of humananimal relations in the past. Until recently, archaeological analysis of faunal evidence has primarily focused on the role of animals in the human diet and subsistence economy. This book, however, argues that animals have always played many more roles in human societies: as wealth, companions, spirit helpers, sacrificial victims, totems, centerpieces of feasts, objects of taboos, and more. Through exploring the significance of animals to ancient humans, this book provides a richer picture of past societies.This is the first book to provide a systematic overview of social zooarchaeology, which takes a holistic view of humananimal relations in the past. Until recently, archaeological analysis of faunal evidence has primarily focused on the role of animals in the human diet and subsistence economy. This book, however, argues that animals have always played many more roles in human societies: as wealth, companions, spirit helpers, sacrificial victims, totems, centerpieces of feasts, objects of taboos, and more. These social factors are as significant as taphonomic processes in shaping alCÈ