## Quantification Codes

The Quantification Code (QC) of an element is a measure of its zooarchaeological value. In the EAU recording protocol (Dobney, Jaques and Johnstone 1999), specimens from mammals and birds that had diagnostic zone diagrams were classified as 'A' bones, while any remaining elements that could be identified at the species level were termed 'B' bones. All other specimens that could not be identified to species were grouped into various categories, such as large mammal, small mammal, etc.

James Barrett's fish recording protocol originally contained a series of five categories (0 to 4), but when this was formalised into FISH 1.1 for the purposes of this recording system, the number of categories was reduced to four (0, 1, 2 and 4) (2001):

- 0 - Elements not usually identified unless cut or 'otherwise interesting'. Normally recorded as ui (unidentified fish).
- 1 - Diagnostic elements of zooarchaeological importance, always fully identified and recorded.
- 2 - Fish vertebrae, for which most details are recorded with the exception of texture, fragmentation and size (unless cut).
- 4 - Special elements that are of extra zooarchaeological interest, always fully identified and recorded.

In the York System, quantification codes have been formalised into four different categories, based on Barrett's fish QCs. Bones that had been termed 'A' class are now QC 1, while those that were 'B' class are mostly QC 0. Certain bones have been separated out to be QC 4 (including antler), while unidentified elements are also QC 0. QC 3 has not been used.

For further information, see the following lists of all the default elements in the system, and their quantification codes:

- mammal
- bird
- fish
- other