A16
备案号 Report Number：
WW
中华人民共和国文物保护行业标准
The People’s Republic of China Standards for the Protection of Cultural Relics
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动物考古标本采集及实验室操作规范
Operational Standards for the collection and laboratory analysis of archaeological
faunal remains
（报批稿 Draft）
XXXX-XX-XX 发布 Issue
中华人民共和国国家文物局
XXXX-XX-XX 实施???
The People’s Republic
of China National Bureau of Cultural Relics 发 布
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Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................... Ⅱ
1
Scope.............................................................................. 1
2
Standard Reference Manuals ......................................................... 1
3
Technical Terminology and Definitions .............................................. 1
4
Operational Standards for the Collection of Zooarchaeological Remains .............. 4
4.1 Recording Information for Collected Specimens .................................... 5
4.2 Methods for Collecting Specimens ................................................. 5
4.3 Standards for Collecting Specimens ............................................... 5
4.4 动物标本分装 .....................................................................
5
Laboratory Standards for Sorting Faunal Specimens .................................. 6
5.1 Washing Specimens, Mending and Numbering ......................................... 6
5.2 Identification of Specimens ...................................................... 7
5.3 Measurement of Specimens ......................................................... 7
5.4 Weighing Specimens............................................................... 7
5.5 Observations of Surface Modifications ............................................ 8
5.6 Building a Database .............................................................. 8
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Introduction
This protocol was put forward by the People’s Republic of China National Bureau
of Cultural Relics.
It falls under the jurisdiction of the National Committee on Technology and Standards
for the Protection of Cultural Relics (SAC/TC289).
Responsible Institution: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of
Archaeology。
Main Authors of this Draft：袁靖 Yuan Jing、罗运兵 Luo Yunbing、李志鹏 Li Zhipeng、
吕鹏 Lü Peng、杨梦菲 Yang Mengfei。
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Operational Standards for the Collection and Laboratory Sorting
of Zooarchaeological Specimens
1 Scope
This protocol sets operational standards for the collection of zooarchaeological specimens in
the field and for sorting in the laboratory.
The standards apply to the complete process related to the collection of zooarchaeological
specimens in the field and for sorting in the laboratory.
2 Standard Reference Manuals
The following documents are cited in this protocol and are those to be used in the processes
described. All future changes (including errors in content) or revised editions don’t apply to this
protocol, although if newer versions are available they should be used.
A Guide to the Measurement of Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites by Angela von den
Driesch, Ma Xiaolin, translated by Hou Yanfeng, Science Press, 2007, Beijing.
3 Technical Terminology and Definitions
The terminology and definitions below apply to their use in this protocol.
3.1
Zooarchaeological specimens
Specimens include shell, animal bones, and teeth excavated from archaeological sites and
burials, as well as animal fur and skin that survive in special taphonomic contexts.
3.2
Complete Collection
In this collection method, all faunal specimens that can be seen by the excavator during
archaeological excavations should be collected by hand.
3.3
Sampling Collection
In this collection method, during archaeological excavation all or some excavated units
should have their soil screened to collect faunal specimens.
3.4
Collection of Complete Specimens
In this collection method, during archaeological excavation of complete or partially complete
zooarchaeological specimens, the faunal remains should be collected along with soil as a complete
unit.
3.5
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Collection by Screening
In this collection method, excavated soil is screened to obtain faunal specimens. This
includes dry screening and wet screening.
3.6
Dry Screening
In this collection method, excavated soil is directly sieved to obtain faunal specimens.
3.7
Wet Screening
In this collection method, excavated soil is put into a sieve and rinsed with water or is washed
in a basket to obtain faunal specimens.
4 Standards for the Collection of Zooarchaeological Remains
4.1 Recording Information for Collected Specimens
a ) Basic recording information: the locus for the specimen, identification number, collection
method, collector, and date should be recorded on a label.
b ) Recording with text and images: well preserved faunal specimens should be photographed
and drawn before collection. Where conditions permit, other potentially useful video
recording can be used. Detailed written records should also be kept about particular
taphonomic conditions, special marks, arrangement/posture, position, contextual
relationships, accompanying artifacts, and related phenomena. If complete faunal
specimens are to be left preserved on site and reburied, before reburial make sure that a
zooarchaeologist first extracts all related research information.
c ) The information recorded for specimens should be input into a computer in a timely
manner.
4.2 Methods for Collecting Specimens
The method of collection for faunal specimens (complete collection, sampling collection, or
collection of complete specimens) should be selected with consideration for the nature of the
excavation and its specific conditions.
4.3 Standards for Collecting Specimens
4.3.1 Standards for Complete Collection
Faunal specimens from every locus should be collected according to their context. When
collecting, the contextual integrity of the faunal specimens should be maintained. Fragile
specimens should be suitably reinforced and placed alone in a cloth bag. Fragments of the same
specimen broken during the excavation should all be put into the same bag.
4.3.2 Standards for Sampling Collection
4.3.2.1 Collecting Soil
Sampling collection consists of soils gathered from contexts such as pits, houses, and related
features.
When taking soil from pits, first excavate half of the pit. Next, excavate the second half
according to the stratigraphy of the profile.
When collecting soil from house sites, collect total or partial soil samples from residential
contexts and contexts related to the ancient people’s living activities.
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When collecting soil from shell midden sites, gullies, or other similar features, select a
25X25cm or 50X50cm area to keep as a sample column for comparison. After the results of the
excavation, excavate within cultural layers in 5cm increments and divide the soil samples
according to these groups (see figure 1).
注：此图出自《胶东半岛贝丘遗址环境考古》
，中国社会科学院考古研究所编著，
社会科学文献出版社，1999 年，北京。Note: Figure taken from Environmental Archaeology at
Shell Midden Sites on the Jiaodong Peninsula, by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of
Archaeology, Social Science Document Publishers, 1999, Beijing.
Figure 1: Example of the sample column excavation at a shell midden site.
4.3.2.2 Collection
Screening should be used to collect specimen. This includes dry and wet sieving. Generally
for sites with sandy soil use dry screening and for sites with sticky soil use wet screening. The
specific method depends on the nature of the soil at the site.
Many different sized mesh screens can be used to sieve, but the smallest must not be larger
than 2mm.
4.3.3 Standards for Collection of Complete Specimens
Determine the volume of soil to be removed along with the faunal specimen. Dig a trough
into the soil at least 50cm in front, in back, to the left, to the right, and below the faunal specimen.
The width of the trough will depend on the work being done. Generally the bottom trench should
be made first. After digging the trenches, insert a wooden plank on one side of the block of soil in
which the faunal specimen is housed. The thickness of each plank generally should not exceed
10cm and the width should not exceed 50cm. The length depends on the volume and size of the
block of soil. Use nails to connect blocks of wood together as needed. The wood planks in front,
to the left, and to the right of the faunal specimen should extend at least 20cm higher than the
specimen and soil surface. After putting the wood planks on all 5 sides, use at least 3mm diameter
wire to tie all of the blocks together to create a “#” shape. Finally extract the animal specimen
and block of soil together as a complete unit.
4.4 Bagging Faunal Specimens
a) Every faunal specimen should be put into its own sealed bag as appropriate.
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b) Fragile faunal specimens can be put into containers filled with cotton, foam plastics,
shredded paper etc.
c) Faunal specimens should be labeled in two ways. Labels should be put inside of each bag
and also written on the outside of the same bag.
5 Laboratory Standards for Sorting Faunal Specimens
5.1 Washing Specimens, Mending and Numbering
5.1.1 Washing
Put the faunal specimens in water and use a soft-hair brush to wash the surface.
For faunal specimens with calcification on the surface, special handling should be carried out
under the instruction of an expert.
5.1.2 Mending
After washing the specimens, broken specimens should be mended. In the process of
mending, be careful not to confuse different loci. Bones with modern breaks due to excavation
should be glued back together. Ancient breaks should not be glued back together.
5.1.3 Laboratory Identification Numbers
According to the standards of numbering used in field archaeology, every specimen that can
be identified to species or skeletal part should be given a laboratory identification number.
5.2 Identification of Specimens
5.2.1 Species, Element and Skeletal Part
The identification of taxon, skeletal element and skeletal part for faunal specimens should be
made with reference to comparative collections and atlases.
a ) Comparative collections include the following two types:
1) Using modern shell, fish, reptile, bird, and mammal comparative specimens.
2) Using archaeological specimens that already have the taxon and skeletal part identified
as comparative specimens.
b）Reference atlases should be official publications with reputable authors, titles, publishing
locations, publishers, and dates of publishing.
5.2.2 Aging
For mammals, age can be determined according to the tooth eruption patterns and the level of
wear on lower teeth, the sutures in the skull, and the state of epiphyseal fusion of long bones.
The basis for the types of identifications listed above should be clearly indicated.
5.2.3 Sexing
Sex can be determined according to the canine teeth in pigs, the morphology of the pelvis in
equids, large bovids, and medium bovids, the presence or absence of antlers in cervids, and the
presence or absence of the protrusion on the tarsometatarsus in chickens and pheasants.
5.2.4 Fragmentary Bone
For bone fragments that are hard to identify to taxon and skeletal part, the fragments can be
divided into groups and weighed as long as the method of division is clearly indicated.
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5.2.5 Bone and Antler Tools
For tools made of bone, antler, shell, and teeth, the taxon, element, and skeletal part should
be identified and the raw materials and processing marks should be studied.
5.3 Measurement of Specimens
5.3.1 Measuring Shell
For bivalves, measure the length and height according to taxon. For gastropods, measure the
height and width according to taxon.
5.3.2 Measuring the Bones of Fish, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals
Bird and mammal skulls, mandibles, teeth, and limb bones should be measured according to
A Guide to the Measurement of Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites. If using other
measurement methods, they should be thoroughly described.
If using official published methods for the measurement of fish and reptile bones, be sure to
use proper citations, indicating the author, title, publishing house, publisher, and date of
publication.
5.4 Weighing Specimens
Every specimen that is identified to taxon or skeletal part should be individually weighed.
Fragmentary bone can be weighed according to excavation locus.
5.5 Observations of Surface Modifications
5.5.1 Pathologies
Pathologies visible on animal bones including changes in bone morphology, unusual growths,
and wounds should have detailed notes and images recorded.
5.5.2 Human Modifications
The main types of human modifications made to bones include the following:
a）Butchery marks: chopping marks, pounding marks, and cutting marks.
b）Food processing marks: burn marks and roasting marks.
c）Marks related to the production of tools made from bone, antler, shell, and teeth: chop
marks, saw marks, pounding marks, chisel marks, and polishing marks.
Data should be recorded about the marks on human modified bones including information
about their shape, depth, location, quantity, etc.
5.5.3 Natural Marks
Natural marks include those resulting from natural environmental influences, plant root
etching, traces left behind by carnivores and rodents, etc.
5.6 Building a Database
5.6.1 鉴定分析信息记录
During laboratory sorting of faunal specimens, all identifications, measurements,
observations and results should be recorded and immediately entered into an electronic database.
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The basic information recorded should include: excavation locus, bone identification number,
taxon, element, symmetry, tooth eruption condition, tooth measurement data, the degree of tooth
wear, skeletal part, state of epiphyseal fusion, bone measurement data, pathologies, human
modifications, natural modifications, degree of bone fragmentation, number of specimens, bone
weight, age, sex, collection method, and other notes.
5.6.2 建立数据库
a) Software such as Excel and Access can be used to construct the database.
b）应将动物标本鉴定分析信息记录输入数据库。
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附录 A
(资料性附录)
动物标本采集信息记录表
编号
出土遗址
出土单位
采集方法
采集人
采集日期
绘图号
照相号
备注
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附录 B
(资料性附录)
动物标本鉴定分析记录表
骨骼
编号
出土
遗址
出土
单位
采集
方法
动物
种属
骨骼
名称
左/右
骨骼
部位
破碎
程度
骨骼
数量
骨骼
重量
骨骺愈
合状况
牙齿
状况
牙齿磨
蚀级别
年龄
性别
病变
现象
人工
痕迹
自然
痕迹
测量
数据
备注
鉴定人
鉴定
日期
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