Richard Grubb & Associates (RGA) offers Human Osteological and Zooarchaeological Services to cultural resource consulting firms, researchers, universities, and government agencies, among others. Animal bones recovered from archaeological sites provide information on diet, seasonality, settlement patterns, past environmental conditions, and the historic range of species. These data are useful for prehistoric and historic archaeologists, biologists, climatologists, and historians. The laboratory contains a microscope, digital scales, computers, standard osteological references, and cookbooks from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The RGA zooarchaeology laboratory is equipped with a comparative collection, with an emphasis on domestic and wild species commonly recovered from archaeological sites in the northeast and the mid-Atlantic. A report is prepared to meet the specific requirements for each project.
RGA's Human Osteological Services include an examination of the bones and teeth to determine sex, stature, age at death, history of injury or trauma, and history of illness and pathologies that leave markers on the skeleton. For larger burial populations, demographic analysis and archaeological comparisons are provided. RGA's staff has experience investigating burial and mortuary practices, and is available for osteological consultation and analysis at our facilities or on-site.
RGA's Zooarchaeology Laboratory is equipped with a comparative collection, with an emphasis on domestic and wild species commonly recovered from archaeological sites in the northeast and the mid-Atlantic regions. Analysis of animal bones recovered from archeological sites provides information on diet, butchery practices, seasonality, settlement patterns, past environmental conditions, and the historic range of species.
Human Osteological Services:
§ Determination of sex, stature, and age at death
§ Investigation into the levels of health, disease, and nutrition of an individual
§ Population demographics and comparative analyses will be provided when possible
§ Analysis of mortuary and burial practices, as well as taphonomic processes
§ Osteometric data provided when applicable
§ Photographic documentation, report preparation, and production
Stone cut tool marks under magnification.
Zooarchaeology Sample Projects:
Zooarchaeological Services:
§ Standard identification of mammals, birds, fish, and shellfish. This includes bone identification to the lowest taxonomic order possible
§ Examination for taphonomic modification, including the presence of butchery marks
§ Quantification of faunal data
§ Photographic documentation to illustrate common bone modifications (e.g. cut marks, gnaw marks, root etching)
§ Bone marking with catalog numbers for curation
§ Report preparation and production