Identifying remains
Comparison with known skeletal specimens supports taxonomic and anatomical identification. Fragmentation or similar species can limit precision; recording uncertainty is preferable to forcing a species label.
Skeletal maturation and tooth development or wear can estimate age at death. Appropriate reference data and preservation conditions remain important rather than treating an estimate as an exact age.
Fragments, individuals and use
Identified-specimen counts measure specimens, with many fragments potentially coming from one animal. Minimum-individual estimates use anatomical side, age and related information, and depend on how assemblages are grouped.
Butchery, represented body parts and mortality patterns inform use and husbandry. Different counting methods answer different questions; more fragments do not directly establish more meat consumption.
References: [2]
Formation and preservation
Remains can derive from human disposal or burial, natural death, water or burrowing. Articulation, surface modification and location help distinguish these processes rather than treating every bone as food waste.
Soil chemistry, decay, fragmentation and recovery select what survives. Retaining primary data and methods permits comparison and later assessment of interpretations.