Insular Zooarchaeology: Advances in the Study of Faunal Assemblages from Oceania

About this Research Topic

Background

Zooarchaeological Background:

From its origins in the early 20th century, zooarchaeology has a long tradition of combining principles from biology, ecology, ethology, and several other disciplines. Through the years, this field has evolved in tandem with advances in other sciences, such as biomolecular studies, which significantly contribute to the wealth of information we can recover from archaeological faunal assemblages. Nevertheless, due to some of the intrinsic limitations of zooarchaeology, related to material preservation and specialized training, research in some geographic areas have not witnessed the same degree of development.

Zooarchaeology in Oceania:

As such, Oceania has not received the same interest as other regions worldwide, due to:

1) The complexity of faunal assemblages in some sites.

This wide geographic area presents specific idiosyncrasies which hinders the application of some traditional methods commonly used in Eurasian and American assemblages. For example, ichtyoarchaeological assemblages from Pacific sites are rarely identified to species level, as the enormous diversity of fish species, the highest diversity in the world, impedes compiling reference collections that include all individuals. In Australia and PNG, taxonomic and ecological differences among marsupials, although informative, are difficult to identify due to the similarity of skeletal elements.

2) The difficulty to adapt methods and techniques applied in other regions to significant research questions for this geographical area.

The effect of specific taphonomic processes, such as bushfires, endemic insect modifications, or Traditional Cultural Practices makes comparisons with assemblages from other regions complex and dubious. Additionally, the poor preservation of organic material, in general collagen, hampers the application of new techniques such as palaeoproteomics or aDNA to advance taxonomical identifications.

These gaps in our knowledge about zooarchaeological advances and suitable methods in the region are in part caused by the lack of specialized publications with a focus on Oceania and its archaeological faunal assemblages.

Recent research on skeletal patterns linked to ritual practices, ancient protein analyses for taxononomic identification or taphonomic analysis to evaluate anthropogenic actions on small vertebrate assemblages show promising new approaches and advances that are significantly contributing to building our knowledge about human-animal interactions in the Oceania region.
With this in mind, the aim of this Research Topic is to provide an up-to-date overview of zooarchaeological advances in Oceania, including research in Australia, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and South Pacific Islands, the latter expanding from Palau and Mariana Islands to the northwest to Marquesas and Easter Island – Rapa Nui- to the southwest.

The main goals and thematic questions we hope contributions to this collection will address are:

1- The role of human actions on changes in fauna composition in these regions

2- Better understanding of biodiversity in terrestrial and marine environments before and after human arrival

3-Human adaptations and behaviour in remote insular environments

This Research Topic aims to showcase advances and innovative approaches addressing different aspects of zooarchaeological research in Oceania. Some of the key topics suggested which could address the goals and questions above include:

1- The role of human actions on changes in fauna composition in these regions

-Animal extinctions, including megafauna and the decimation of some species from invasive animals
-Trade and exchange networks, such as animal translocation or trading of animal products
-Taphonomic processes in Oceania and neotaphonomic experimentation

2- A better understanding of biodiversity in terrestrial and marine environments before and after human arrival

- Shell midden formation and preservation
-New methods to analyze, identify, and quantify zooarchaeological assemblages in the region, including palaeoproteomics and other biomolecular techniques

3- Human adaptations and behaviour in Oceania

-Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous use of animals
-Symbolic and ritual use of animals
-Indigenous fisheries and exploitation of marine resources

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: zooarchaeology, fisheries, marine exploitation, Australia, faunal remains, human-animal interaction, ecology, ethology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.