Zootropolis: Multi-species archaeological, ecological and historical approaches to animals in Medieval urban Scotland

In northern Europe, the medieval period brought unprecedented urbanization and agricultural intensification, changing the social, ecological, and economic relationships between humans and animals, and the environment.

Focusing on the north-east of Scotland and utilizing the rich historic and archaeological records of the Royal Burgh of Aberdeen, this project will investigate the varied niches occupied by animals in medieval cities.

Through a combination of bioarchaeological techniques (zooarchaeological analysis, stable isotope analysis) and textual analysis, and using a multi-species framework, this project will explore the social and ecological spaces of domestic and commensal animals co-created through urbanity.