Faunal Analysis
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Undergraduate
ASM 494 Paleozoology (3 credits)
Graduate
ASM 591 Paleozoology (3 credits) 
This two-week laboratory course will give you hands-on experience in identifying and analyzing animal remains from archaeological sites using an extensive skeletal reference collection.
Students will:
- Become familiar with the skeletal anatomy of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians commonly encountered at Midwestern archaeological sites.
- Learn to identify teeth and fragmentary animal skeletal remains from archaeological faunal assemblages under the guidance of experienced specialists.
- See how various taphonomic (post-depositional) agents affect animal remains and how cultural modifications, such as cut marks, gnawing by scavenging animals and burning can be recognized and interpreted.
- Conduct basic quantitative analysis; make inferences about past environmental settings, subsistence strategies and site formation processes.
Instructors: Terrance Martin, curator of anthropology, and Bonnie Styles, museum director, Illinois State Museum
