Paleozoology and Paleoenvironments
Fundamentals, Assumptions, Techniques

Outlines the ecological fundamentals, assumptions, and techniques for reconstructing past environments using fossil animals from archaeological and paleontological sites.

J. Tyler Faith (Author), R. Lee Lyman (Author)

9781108480352, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 February 2019

412 pages, 87 b/w illus. 26 tables
26 x 18.3 x 2.3 cm, 1.01 kg

'… Faith and Lyman have succeeded in pioneering paleoenvironmental reconstruction via faunabased methods. Aimed primarily at upper-level students of ecology, zooarcheology, and paleontology, the book remains accessible to other readers interested in the subject. Every chapter keeps one foot in the historical past and another in the geologic past while keeping the focus on modern applications (and beyond). This volume will be an indispensable companion to both paleontologists and neonatologists interested in understanding past, present, and future environments.' Jeremy B. Stout, The Quarterly Review of Biology

Paleozoology and Paleoenvironments outlines the reconstruction of ancient climates, floras, and habitats on the basis of animal fossil remains recovered from archaeological and paleontological sites. In addition to outlining the ecological fundamentals and analytical assumptions attending such analyzes, J. Tyler Faith and R. Lee Lyman describe and critically evaluate many of the varied analytical techniques that have been applied to paleozoological remains for the purpose of paleoenvironmental reconstruction. These techniques range from analyses based on the presence or abundance of species in a fossil assemblage to those based on taxon-free ecological characterizations. All techniques are illustrated using faunal data from archaeological or paleontological contexts. Aimed at students and professionals, this volume will serve as fundamental resource for courses in zooarchaeology, paleontology, and paleoecology.

1. Why a book on paleoenvironmental reconstruction from faunal remains?
2. Fundamentals of ecology and biogeography
3. Analytical assumptions
4. Background of select paleozoological samples
5. Environmental reconstructions based on the presence/absence of taxa
6. Environmental reconstruction based on taxonomic abundances
7. Taxon-free techniques
8. Environmental inferences based on taxonomic diversity
9. Transfer functions and quantitative paleoenvironmental reconstruction
10. Size clines as paleoenvironmental indicators
11. Some final thoughts.

Subject Areas: Conservation of the environment [RNK], Zoology: Vertebrates [PSVW], Zoology: Invertebrates [PSVT], Zoology & animal sciences [PSV], Environmental archaeology [HDP], Archaeological theory [HDA]