Walking on Eggshells: A Study of Egg Use in Anglo-Scandinavian York Based on Eggshell Identification Using ZooMS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Walking on Eggshells

T2 - A Study of Egg Use in Anglo-Scandinavian York Based on Eggshell Identification Using ZooMS

AU - Stewart, John R.M.

AU - Allen, Richard B.

AU - Jones, Andrew K.G.

AU - Kendall, T.

AU - Penkman, K. E.H.

AU - Demarchi, B.

AU - O'Connor, T.

AU - Collins, M. J.

PY - 2014/1/1

Y1 - 2014/1/1

N2 - Eggshell is a potentially common archaeological resource, but it tends to be ignored. The recent development of ZooMS (zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry) as a rapid and robust system for taxonomic identification of preserved eggshell fragments has facilitated new insights into patterns of egg use in the past. This paper presents a case study of egg use at two sites in Anglo-Scandinavian York (Hungate and Coppergate). The results described below suggest that the relative prevalence of goose eggshell may become a useful indicator of status, consistent with other characteristics of the two sites, and also demonstrate an apparent lack of exploitation of eggs of wild birds in York during the Anglo-Scandinavian period. These results highlight the interpretative potential of eggshell, which can now begin to be more fully explored.

AB - Eggshell is a potentially common archaeological resource, but it tends to be ignored. The recent development of ZooMS (zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry) as a rapid and robust system for taxonomic identification of preserved eggshell fragments has facilitated new insights into patterns of egg use in the past. This paper presents a case study of egg use at two sites in Anglo-Scandinavian York (Hungate and Coppergate). The results described below suggest that the relative prevalence of goose eggshell may become a useful indicator of status, consistent with other characteristics of the two sites, and also demonstrate an apparent lack of exploitation of eggs of wild birds in York during the Anglo-Scandinavian period. These results highlight the interpretative potential of eggshell, which can now begin to be more fully explored.

KW - Bioarchaeology

KW - Eggshell

KW - Zooarchaeology

KW - ZooMS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84902082097&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/oa.2362

DO - 10.1002/oa.2362

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84902082097

SN - 1047-482X

VL - 24

SP - 247

EP - 255

JO - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

JF - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

IS - 3

ER -