Signatures of animal bone fragmentation have huge potential for understanding deposition and archaeological site formation processes, yet they are scarcely studied, especially in medieval urban contexts. Archaeological investigations at 1–5 Benjamin Street, Farringdon uncovered a number of medieval cess pits and other contexts associated with the Hospitaller Priory of St John of Jerusalem. The well-preserved zooarchaeological assemblage from these contexts was deemed an excellent case study for in-depth bone fragmentation analysis to both test and display the utility of the method at this type of site. The analysis revealed that material from the lowest fills of the cess pits differed from the upper fills in that fragmentation was more intensive. Based on the size and weight of fragments, and surface modifications related to burning and taphonomy, we postulate that floor and hearth sweepings were occasionally deposited in the cess pits whilst they were in use. This material was likely further fragmented when cess pits were periodically emptied. Faunal specimens in the upper fills have different fragmentation and taphonomic signatures and more likely relate to opportunistic refuse deposition or capping after the use of the cess pits. This analysis shows the archaeological potential of this approach when aligned with specific research questions concerning deposition.

中文翻译：

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使用骨碎片分析中世纪Cess坑中的沉积和位点形成过程

动物骨骼碎片的签名在理解沉积和考古遗址形成过程方面具有巨大的潜力，但很少对其进行研究，尤其是在中世纪的城市环境中。法灵顿本杰明街1-5号的考古调查发现了许多中世纪的污水坑和其他与耶路撒冷圣约翰医院小修道院相关的环境。在这些情况下，保存完好的动物考古学组合被认为是深入进行骨碎片分析的极好的案例研究，可以在这种类型的场所测试和展示该方法的实用性。分析表明，来自坑底最低填充物的材料与顶部填充物的不同之处在于碎片更加密集。根据碎片的大小和重量，以及与燃烧和窃电有关的表面改性，我们假设地板和炉膛扫地物在使用时偶尔会沉积在污水坑中。当定期排空污水坑时，这种材料可能会进一步碎裂。上部填充物中的动物标本具有不同的碎裂和憎水特征，并且更可能与使用污水坑后的机会性垃圾沉积或封盖有关。当与关于沉积的特定研究问题相吻合时，这一分析表明了这种方法的考古潜力。上部填充物中的动物标本具有不同的碎裂和憎水特征，并且更可能与使用污水坑后的机会性垃圾沉积或封盖有关。当与关于沉积的特定研究问题相吻合时，这一分析表明了这种方法的考古潜力。上部填充物中的动物标本具有不同的碎裂和憎水特征，并且更可能与使用污水坑后的机会性垃圾沉积或封盖有关。当与关于沉积的特定研究问题相吻合时，这一分析表明了这种方法的考古潜力。