Analysis of historic faunal remains

Abstract

The potential for inferring aspects of a cultural system from the analysis of faunal remains recovered from historic sites is discussed. In-depth analysis of cow, sheep, and pig bones recovered from the Fort Walla Walla Dump (45WW33) reveals non-functional, possibly individual, and functional variation in the butchering pattern. Butchering data indicate that cows, sheep, and pigs were obtained in butchered form; the butchering pattern at the site is different from that followed today, and suggests a cultural preference in terms of desirable meat.