History, Theory, Methodology And Application Of Western Avian-Zooarchaeology

Archaeozoology in West had developed for more than a hundred years. However, western avian-archaeozoology had a much shorter history there. Since archaeologist John Grahame Douglas Clark from England published an important article on prehistoric ecology using avian remains in prehistoric sites in 1848, avain-archaeozoology was getting more and more attentions then, and lots of studies on ancient avian remains gradually were carried out. Recently, some experts on paleoenvironment and paleoclimate dedicated to archaeoornithology, and plenty of achievements were published, which promoted the development of this discipline. In the present dissertation, the history, theory and methodology of western avain-archaezoology were reviewed. The application of western avian-archaeozoology in prehistoric Finland was systemically introduced. Furthermore, based on the theory and methodology of western avian-archaeozoology, a preliminary study on bird remains in Jiahu Site, Henan and Hemudu Site, Zhejiang, was carried out. The contents were listed as follows:Chapter 1 is introduction. The topic basis, significance, contents, methods were listed in this chapter;Chapter 2 reviewed the study history of western avian-archaeozoology, and introduced the representative scientists in this field;Chapter 3 reviewed the theory of western avian-archaeozoology, including the reconstruction of palaeo-environment and palaeo-climate, the fowling and occupation season, the significances of society and economy, the pathology based on avain remains;Chapter 4 reviewed the methodology of western avian-archaeozoology, including chemical analysis, microscopic analysis, DNA analysis on bird bones, bird feathers and bird eggshell;Chapter 5 introduced the application of theory and methodology of wester avian-archaeozoology in prehistoric Finland. First of all, the development course of avain-archaeozoology in Finland was figured out. Then, the distribution of prehistoric sites containing bird bones and the characteristics of utilization of birds in prehistoric Finland were listed. The social economic significances and environmental implications of prehistoric bird fauna were also discussed. At last, the relationship between the prehistoric bird species and Holocene climate was also proposed;Chapter 6 gave the conclusions and perspectives. Moreover, the perspectives of avian-arcaheozoology in China were proposed.