Methods, methodology, and zooarchaeology in practice

Careful consideration of the ways in which methods influence results has been a vital aspect of zooarchaeology’s development as a branch of archaeology. In this chapter we highlight several prominent methodological issues in archaeofaunal analysis and consider the ongoing nature and future prospects of methodological problems in general. The role of best practice guidelines is weighed against the need for methodological flexibility that balances scientific rigor, logistical constraints, and research goals. While we suggest that zooarchaeologists would be wise to avoid pursuing a universal set of methods, we join others in advocating for increased assurance of data quality and methodological transparency in the field. We conclude by reflecting on the present contributions to zooarchaeology’s methodological discourse and their role in advancing this agenda