Commercial archaeology, zooarchaeology and the study of Romano-British towns

This chapter will review the contribution that commercial zooarchaeology has made in advancing our knowledge of the exploitation of animals in Romano-British towns. It will highlight studies on sites excavated after 1990 but will also incorporate analyses that were carried out on assemblages from earlier excavations that were rescue- rather than research-orientated. It will first summarise the information available from the various towns involved and then discuss some of the major trends that have emerged from such studies. It will conclude with a critical evaluation of the impact of commercial zooarchaeology.