Definition, methods and aims of Zooarchaeology. Evolution, history and general view of Zooarchaeology in the world and Italy. Animal remains from archaeological contexts: bones, teeth and shells. The identification of the animal remains, species and death age. The reconstruction of the animal morphological features and their economic role in the past. Domestication, breeding, hunting and gathering. The marks in the hard animal tissues. Recent perspectives of zooarchaeological studies: paleopathology, paleohistology, paleoparassitology. The study of the ancient DNA.