• Geochemical analysis identifies chemical groups in the ceramics studied. • Three main petrographic paste groups are identified in the Igbo Ukwu assemblage. • Multiple petrofabrics reflect differences in clay sources and clay processing techniques. • The ceramics are consistent with broadly local geology. • The results from this study refine the understanding of raw material sourcing and ceramic production practices at ancient Igbo Ukwu. The 1st and 2nd Millennium CE marked significant shifts in West African economy and sociopolitical systems with commensurate changes to craft economies in the region, including expanded trade networks and increasing urbanism across the region. This study investigates ceramic production at Igbo Ukwu (9th-12th Century CE), one of the most significant archaeological sites in West Africa, renowned for its elaborate material culture and early technological sophistication. Drawing on legacy collections from Thurstan Shaw’s 1959 – 1964 excavations, this paper examines ceramic samples from Igbo Isaiah, Igbo Richard, and Igbo Jonah, the three excavated sites, using petrographic and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyses. The results reveal three major petrographic groups (Argillaceous, Quartzitic, and Transitionary) representing locally sourced clays and distinct chemical composition groups, highlighting substantial variation in broadly locally sourced raw material and preparation techniques. The findings from this work reveal multiple paste types that were used to produce macroscopically similar vessels, suggesting multiple potting traditions or workshops. However, it remains unclear if production was directed towards local consumption, regional exchange, or if the potting industry was organized to meet both local and external demands. These findings offer new insights into the organization of ceramic production at Igbo Ukwu and contribute to a broader understanding of craft production and technological knowledge in early West African societies.

• ZooMS study of 988 bones from the Palaeolithic site, Geißenklösterle Cave. • Carnivore damage three times more prevalent on indeterminate fossils than those with diagnostic features. • Fragment size influences species identifications in ZooMS studies. • Earliest anthropogenic modification on Rhinocerotidae remains in the Swabian Jura. Geißenklösterle Cave, a Palaeolithic site located in the Swabian Jura of southern Germany, has yielded multiple Middle Palaeolithic strata and some of the earliest evidence for the Aurignacian and Gravettian in Europe. Rich assemblages of three-dimensional figurines, personal ornaments, and musical instruments position Geißenklösterle Cave, and the complex of caves in the region, as significant in our understanding of the Palaeolithic in Europe. Extensive osseous assemblages preserved through the Palaeolithic layers of the site have allowed for thorough zooarchaeological research, aimed at reconstructing site use and human behavior. Drawing from this established research, we applied ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) to 988 morphologically non-identifiable bone fragments from Geißenklösterle Cave to develop strategies for the integration of non-diagnostic material into the previously established datasets. Our results indicate excellent preservation conditions for collagen, with a 98.4% success rate for ZooMS. The inclusion of taphonomic analyses in our study suggests predators played a significantly bigger role in bone fragmentation at the site than previously assumed, with 31% of bones included in this study exhibiting some kind of carnivore damage. Rare instances of anthropogenic modifications on bones were also identified, including the earliest instance of a cut-mark on a woolly rhinoceros ( Coelodonta antiquitatis ) bone in the Swabian Jura. Finally, we demonstrate the potential biases introduced through sampling strategies regarding the size of bone fragments analyzed in our study. Our results provide valuable insights for the discourse on both Palaeolithic archaeology as well as the best-practice integration of ZooMS into the zooarchaeological workflow.