A new approach to identifying bone marrow and grease exploitation: Why the 'indeterminate' fragments should not be ignored

The economic importance of bone fat to past peoples is discussed and the ethnography of bone marrow and grease extraction is briefly outlined. Models for expected patterns of bone fracture and fragmentation, relating to the exploitation of bone marrow and grease, are described. Current methods for assessing bone fracture and fragmentation, in archaeological assemblages, are discussed and a new methodology is suggested. The importance of retaining and studying the 'indeterminate class of fragments is stressed. The new methodology employs a fracture freshness index (FFI) to study fracture type, and fragmentation is assessed through the separation of fragments into size classes and different bone types. An example application is given.