zooarchaeology

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the branch of archaeology that studies animal remains — bones, teeth, shells, scales, and other faunal material — recovered from archaeological contexts to reconstruct past human-animal relationships, subsistence strategies, seasonal movement patterns, domestication processes, trade networks, and ritual practices; zooarchaeologists identify species, estimate population demographics, and analyse butchery marks to infer hunting, herding, and consumption behaviours across different periods and cultures