While a comparative faunal collection would be convenient in one's own laboratory, consideration must be given to sources, preparation, and storage of the animal carcasses and skeletons, federal and state laws, and transmittable diseases. The identification of bones by genus and species, age, and sex is only the first step and is not an end in itself. An experienced zooarchaeologist knows the habits and habitats of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish to interpret their role in a society's subsistence pattern.
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