The stories told in animal bones with David Romera Fernández

What can a cow bone tell you about a medieval army? More than you'd think.In this episode of The Shindig host Gretchen Kessler sits down with David Romera Fernández, for a fascinating deep-dive into zooarchaeology.In this episode, you'll discover:What zooarchaeology actually is — and why it's not just "old bones"How to tell a cow's age from its skeleton — and why that matters for understanding ancient populationsWhat cut marks on bones reveal about butchery, diet, wealth, and gender in ancient societiesThe difference between a wild boar and a domesticated pig — written into the bone itselfWhy Ireland desperately needs more zooarchaeologists (spoiler: there are almost none)A story involving a police stop, a van full of medieval bones, and very long hairDavid also shares the evidence for ancient pet burials, healed animal fractures that hint at real human-animal bonds, and explains how the study of animal remains is quietly rewriting what we know about women's roles in history.Oh, and if you've ever wanted to time travel? David's answer will take you further back than anyone before him on this show. 70 million years further back, to be precise.The Shindig is produced by Rubicon Archaeology one of Ireland's leading archaeological consultancies, with teams working across Ireland, the UK, and Germany. We believe great archaeology starts with great people, and this podcast is our way of introducing you to them.🦴 Subscribe, follow, and share — and let us know: what would you do with an hour in the past?The Shindig is a Rubicon Archaeology Production.Keep up to date with everything Rubicon here: Click for More Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.