New book expands on human and animal relationships

Recently released by Zhejiang Education Publishing House, Bones Through Time: Insights from a Zooarchaeologist is a new book that explores the interactions between humans and animals.

Authored by Dong Ningning, an archaeologist at Fudan University in Shanghai, the book focuses on trending topics as its entry point, takes the interactive relationship between humans and animals as its central theme, and skillfully weaves together key archaeological research topics such as human evolution, animal domestication, ancient diets and rituals, subsistence economy patterns, and the trajectory of civilization.

Yuan Jing, a veteran zooarchaeologist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says the author combines rigorous archaeological evidence with vivid details of daily life to offer an in-depth exploration and systematic interpretation of the historical relationship between humans and animals.

"By drawing on everyday details to inspire reflection and using the past to illuminate the present, the book provides clear answers to three core questions — 'What is zooarchaeology?' 'How does zooarchaeology decode the past?' and 'How can zooarchaeology benefit the present?' — enriching the public's understanding of archaeology and zooarchaeology, satisfying curiosity about ancient societies and offering wisdom and inspiration from history for contemporary ecological conservation, the harmonious coexistence of humans and animals, and sustainable development," says Yuan.

"Translating research into popular science is not an easy feat. This book is brilliantly written, seamlessly drawing on scientific findings while vividly bringing everyday delights to life," says Lyu Peng, another zooarchaeologist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.