Discussion of screen size and resource depression: Using an examination of Faleloa, Tonga

Abstract

Resource depression has become prominent in the study of faunal material from the archaeological record in recent years. One of the chief concerns in these studies is the difference in amount of material between that has been collected, versus that which has been lost during the excavation process. This paper addresses some of the theoretical and methodological issues of resource depression as well as the use of screen size in zooarchaeological studies. The fish material collected from unit 16 of the site of Faleloa, Tonga is analysed through three different mesh sizes, to address the importance of the 1/8” and 1/16” screen sizes.