Strategy and Ideology through ZooMS: Insights from Palaeolithic and prehistoric bone tools

Abstract

ZooMS (Zooarchaeoology by Mass Spectrometry) is a biomolecular technique for determining the taxon of origin for archaeological bone and osseous tool assemblages. ZooMS helps identify patterns in taxa selection, giving evidence of strategies in Palaeolithic and prehistoric industries. When situated within a chaîne opératoire perspective, ZooMS analysis can reveal opportunistic, technologically strategic, or ideologically strategic raw material selection patterns. In doing so, ZooMS uncovers otherwise imperceptible practices and processes at Palaeolithic and prehistoric timescales, and spotlights strategic and ideological dimensions of otherwise technological artifact classes. This review outlines a rationale and pathways for integrating ZooMS into wider studies of social decision making and environmental understanding in the deep human past.