The Laboraroty of Geophysical-Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeo-environment undertakes the analysis of biological remains form archaeological excavations, aiming to the reconstruction of aspects of the ancient environment. Such an analysis leads to a better understanding of the environmental and economic variables, which have affected human activity and behavior in the past. It also works towards the illumination of aspects of social behavior which involve the acquisition, management and consumption of food and biological raw materials.

Through the retrieval of a variety of bio-archaeological remains, and detailed identification and recording of animal remains (mammals and fish), the Lab contributes to the reconstruction of archaeological landscapes and the managements of archaeological sites. Furthermore, the investigation and study of ancient ecosystems leads to a better understanding on environmental management.

The Lab is also contributing to the better understanding of the archaeological evidence. The analysis of bio-archaeological remains sheds light to basic aspects of ancient economy (i.e. available natural resources and their management, nutrition, animal husbandry, hunting, fishing, and so forth), as well as diet and related aspects of life.

As aspects of everyday life, such as agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing and diet, fall under the influence of world-systems, research, which focuses on the interaction between humans and their environment in the past, becomes crucial. Such research not only provides examples of sustainable management of natural resources but also highlights the individuality of gegraphically specific small scale communities.

Services

• Identification and analysis of osteological material (mammal and fish bones).
• Consulting services for a best sampling and field processing (water flotation, sorting) of the bio-archaeological material. Training of the members of the excavation project for the above procedures.
• Consulting services for the organization of exhibitions and other related events of public character, pertinent to the fields of the Labs specializations.
• Identification and analysis of material in fields which are not covered by the Laboratory´s own experts (i.e. insects, mollusks, small mammals, plant remains) by external collaborators.
• Photography and drawing of bio-archaeological remains.
• Preparation and disposal of animal skeletons to Institutes, Museums and researchers.

Zooarchaeology

Zoo-archaeology is the study of the past interactions between humans and animals. It is based on animal bones, found during archaeological excavations. It also uses additional data, such as artefacts, documentary sources, art representations, etc.
Animal remains are very common finds in archaeological excavations and they are often accurate witnesses of everyday economic conditions and actions which have passed without leaving any other visible traces.

The zoo-archaeological research follows three main steps:

Recovery

During the archaeological excavation, many animal remains are collected, including bones of mammals, fish and birds. Hand picking, dry sieving and water flotation are some of the methods employed, each leading to a more or less representative recovery.

Recording and analysis

Every animal bone found in an excavation bears some information about the animal's physiology as well as on the management of the live animals and the carcasses. Observations on the bone refer to the anatomical part it represents, the animal it belongs to, its sex and maturity, as well as the degree/method of its fragmentation, its preservation state and possible pathologies, cut marks, working evidence etc. Using a basic statistical analysis all this information elucidates such aspects of elementary human/animal interactions as :

• The range of species exploited by humans in the past (or sharing their living space),
• The age and sex composition of herds or hunted animals,
• The carcass management, i.e. cutting techniques, preference to certain anatomical parts, modes of cooking, etc.

Observations on the preservation of the bones, are used as a guide to the reconstruction of the taphonomic history* of the assemblage and often of the excavated site itself.

Interpretation

The basic information derived from the animal bones is combined with other sets of data, such as related architectural structures and artifacts, written sources, art representations. They are analysed in the light of ecological observations and ethnographic paradigms. The aim is to build a picture on the past interactions between animals and humans.

Interpretations of animal bone assemblages usually refer to the nature of the environment from which the animals under study originate and the methods developed by humans to manage the animals (hunting, herding, pastoralism, etc). The socio-economic implications of the above, special uses of animals (e.g. sacrifice), as well as symbolic/ideological values invested on them are also explored.

* Taphonomic history: refers to the processes which have affected the bones since the moment it seized being alive to the time of analysis. It involves factors such as crushing, trampling, digesting, and the erosion of bones through weathering.