Taphonomy

BORRAZZO, KAREN

The SAS Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences

Wiley

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2018; p. 1 - 4

Fossil record is the main source of information for several disciplines, such as paleontology and archaeology. Primarily formulated for the study of bone assemblages early in the 20th century, taphonomy evolved into a wider discipline that provides means for understanding the formation history of assemblages including different types of material remains. Taphonomic studies assess the role of differential preservation/destruction and paleoecological or behavioral factors in the patterns exhibited by the fossil record. Within this framework, actualistic research has a prominent role in providing frame of reference for interpreting fossil trends