ZooRoMed combines two different strands of evidence: zooarchaeology and stable isotopes.

Zooarchaeological analysis:

This will incorporate different approaches, using the database OSSOBOOK, such as:

• Taxonomic proportions through NISP (Number of Identified Specimens), MNE (Minimum Number of Elements) and MNI (Minimum Number of Individuals), in order to understand fluctuations in the relative importance of the main livestock species (cattle, sheep and pig);
• Biometrical analyses for tracking body size and shape fluctuations of these species. Scatterplots and size index scaling techniques will be used in order to analyse these datasets. The biometrical study will be used with the aim of comparing body size between time periods/regions; detecting populations containing more robust or slender animals, and the potential for different geographic types; and detecting the ratios of male/female/castrates. Through this it will be possible to investigate animal husbandry, whilst considering the effects of age and sex, in addition to climate, topography, and cultural influence.
• Age-at-death analyses will be undertaken using mandibular tooth eruption, wear data and epiphysary fusion stage. This will determine what kind of products livestock was being exploited for in different time periods/regions.

Stable isotope analysis:

This project involves the analysis of stable isotope geochemistry for investigating changes in livestock diet. Carbon and nitrogen will be used to analyse changes in animal dietary regimes.