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The collection includes over 2,000 complete and partial skeletons of modern animals. It comprises a wide range of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and fish specimens that live, or once lived, in Europe. Approximately 30% of the specimens are accompanied by life-history information (such as sex, age, and breed), allowing for more detailed identification of archaeological material and providing opportunities to explore questions of morphological variability. The presence of multiple specimens for individual taxa also enables the development of identification criteria based on osteological material. 

The Zooarchaeology collection has an innovative and user-friendly layout designed to democratise access and empower students, researchers and visiting users, regardless of experience level. At the core of this approach are index collections, carefully curated and logically organised sets of bones grouped by anatomical element. This allows users to easily compare different species side by side, supporting more efficient and accurate identification of fragmentary finds.

• Bird Index Collection: Organised into four size-based groups, each drawer contains a single anatomical element (e.g., femurs, tibiotarsi) across various species. This structure enables quick visual comparisons and helps users understand shape and size differences across bird orders and families;
• Mammal Index Collection: Mirroring the bird section, mammal drawers display one anatomical element at a time across domestic and wild species, from sheep and cattle to deer and canids;
• Loose Teeth Collection: This cabinet showcases both deciduous and permanent teeth. Multiple examples per tooth type highlight how wear impacts morphology, crucial for zooarchaeological interpretation;
• Fish Collection: Featuring a colour-coding system to navigate complex taxonomies, the fish drawers organise skeletal elements by family rather than size, enhancing usability for researchers studying fish remains.

A complete database of the collection is available to

The Zooarchaeology reference collection is located on the Edwardian A floor of the Alfred Denny building, and it is accessible via appointment. To arrange access please contact the RICHeS Zooarchaeology Technical Specialist, Dr. Lenny Salvagno (l.salvagno@sheffield.ac.uk). Alternatively, please contact the Zooarchaeology Laboratory (zooarchlab@sheffield.ac.uk).