Faunal Analysis from the 2005 Excavation at Aðalstræti Nr. 10 in Reykjavík, Iceland

• Main Authors: Harrison, Ramona (NABO), Alexander, Elise, Feeley, Frank, Gorsline, Marjorie, Hicks, Megan, Mitrovic, Slobodan
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: the Digital Archaeological Record
• Subjects: Reykjavík; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.6067:XCV8NP25CB_meta$v=1417394710179

A Total Number of Fragments, or TNF, of 13,471 were counted, yielding a Number of Identified Species, or NISP, of 6,923. The overall preservation was variable; some contexts contained many flaked bone and heavily deteriorated fragments, whereas other elements were in surprisingly good condition. Contexts (062) and (088) yielded the best preserved bone material, while remains from contexts (076), (082), (084), (086), frequently could only be placed in UNIM (Unidentified Mammal species) and Fish (Unidentified Fish species) categories. Context (067) contains the largest amount of unidentified fish remains with 1137 elements counted These unidentifiable bone fragments were the ones most affected by Taphonomy (Lyman, 1996), the series of post-depositional deterioration factors leading to the break down of faunal materials. The high number of fragments placed into the UNI or Unidentifiable Faunal Fragments category further indicates the rather poor preservation state of at least part of the faunal remains.