Abstract
A major aspect of the analysis of biological remains from many archaeological sites is recognizing past activities and ecological conditions at the context or feature level in order to build up an overall picture of site usage and development. This demands investigation of very large numbers of samples, which, if carried out fully, may be prohibitively expensive. It is suggested that characteristic and easily recognized suites of organisms preserved in archaeological deposits form “indicator groups” associated with particular activities or circumstances in the past, and that these, in turn, may be seen as part of “indicator packages” encompassing biological, stratigraphical, artefactural, and structural evidence. Indicator groups may provide a means of obtaining archaeological information economically. This proposition is illustrated with particular reference to stable manure, a frequent component of Roman–modern occupation deposits.
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