Abstract
Zooarchaeological studies of fossil bone collections are often conducted using simple spreadsheet programs for data recording and analysis. After quickly summarizing the limitations of such an approach, we present a new software solution, TIPZOO, which uses a FileMaker touchscreen interface combined with R scripts and QGIS files. This tool was specifically designed for zooarchaeologists needs, and is freely available at http://tipzoo.cnrs.fr. In this article, the key features of TIPZOO are highlighted, and we present some of the tools developed in order to (1) simplify the use of recently published complex coding systems, (2) better control intra- and inter-analyst variation, and (3) allow faster and more reliable data entry, analysis and visualization in Palaeolithic zooarchaeology.
Highlights
Performing a zooarchaeological study of a faunal collection involves several steps, including anatomical and taxonomical identification, observation of bone surface modifications, and, as with most archaeological disciplines, data entry and analysis
Advances in techniques of analysis entail a cumulation of complex coding systems, which impedes their broad use because datasets become increasingly unmanageable, especially for large faunal collections
In order to tackle these issues, we developed a new solution for data acquisition and analysis in Palaeolithic zooarchaeology, TIPZOO, which is freely available on the http://tipzoo.cnrs.fr website
Summary
Performing a zooarchaeological study of a faunal collection involves several steps, including anatomical and taxonomical identification, observation of bone surface modifications, and, as with most archaeological disciplines, data entry and analysis. A separate technical manual, available for download at http://tipzoo.cnrs.fr, provides detailed information on the practical use of TIPZOO This tool, called TIPZOO (Touchscreen Interface for Palaeolithic Zooarchaeology), is based on (Fig. 1): - TIPZOO-FMP: its core element, a FileMaker solution connected to a relational database designed for bone recording (identifications, taphonomic observations, minimum number of elements, refits, etc.), with a graphical and touchscreen interface adapted for tablets; - TIPZOO-R: R scripts for analysis and statistical processing of the preformatted data exported by TIPZOO-FMP, linked with a collection of pre-entered zooarchaeological reference datasets (amount of bone occurrences per skeleton, bone mineral density values, food utility marrow indices, etc.); - TIPZOO-QGIS: QGIS project and shapefiles designed for quick and easy representation of skeletal-part profiles on skeleton outlines, using preformatted data exported by TIPZOO-R (inspired by comparable efforts by Orton, 2010 using ESRI ArcGIS). Other types of data visualization, will gradually be developed and integrated into the system and made available on the TIPZOO website
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