Abstract

The methods by which bones from archaeological sites are identified are often more intuitive than realised. The present paper examines the way in which zooarchaeologists and Quaternary palaeontologists identifying bird remains limit the possible species that may be present at a site by using the modern geographical ranges of taxa. If a taxon is absent from the region where the site is situated it may not be considered. This is reasonable in most instances but the limits of this method are generally unspoken and in some instances the method breaks down altogether. Examples include circumstances where a taxon has been humanly imported from a great distance or has naturally altered its range due to the vicissitudes of environmental change.