Possibilities and limitations of the use of archaeozoological data in biogeographical analysis: A review with examples from the Benelux region

Archaeozoology is the study of interactions between man and other animals t hrough time, by the analysis of animal remains and traces found during arch aeological excavations. Gradually, it has also been recognised by the "main stream" zoological world that archaeozoological data can provide insight in to the evolution or regional variation of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene faunas of the Low Countries, just as palaeontological research does for ol der periods. The wide scope of recent archaeozoological research is, howeve r, often not fully recognised, not only in terms of taxonomic diversity, bu t also with regard to the detail of information gathered. This review highl ights these interpretative possibilities, but also outlines the possible li mitations of archaeozoological datasets. These limitations are linked with the characteristics of the sites investigated, i.e. the conditions affectin g preservation, the formation processes, the cultural framework, or the ori gin of the deposits. The dataset is also biased by archaeological methodolo gy particularly in relation to the sampling and recovery of organic remains . Furthermore, the information gathered will differ strongly between taxa, according to their taphonomic status, their place within different human cu ltures, the chances of fossilisation of their remains, and eventual identif ication problems. When the limiting factors described are not known or not well understood, the use of archaeozoological data in faunal reconstruction s may lead to false conclusions.