Archaeozoology in Germany. Its Course of Development. Cornelia Becker & Norbert Benecke

ABSTRACT: Although archaeozoology in Germany has a long tradition and has been broadly embedded in the biological sciences, it is currently undergoing a difficult period of mixed support. This paper describes the varied course of development of archaeozoology from the 1940’s onward. In this period, archaezoology grew from a phase of initial acceptance in universities, museums and monument protection departments to significant growth of the discipline and wide acceptance in archaeology in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of whether, indeed, the politically caused separation of East and West had a major influence on archaeozoological research in the two Germanys. Following this, the development of archaeozoology after reunification, the major changes it brought to the field, and the reasons for those changes are considered.