Atlas for the Identification of Sturgeon Species of Europe by Skeletal Elements and Implications for Its Use in Archaeozoology

ABSTRACT This paper presents a comprehensive photographic atlas for the identification of sturgeon species in Europe based on skeletal elements. The atlas aims to facilitate accurate species identification of sturgeons from archaeological sites across Europe by providing photographs of key skeletal elements and main body measurements. These data were collected from examinations of 42 specimens representing eight sturgeon species and two intergeneric hybrids. The atlas covers 22 skeletal elements, focusing on those most commonly preserved in the context of archaeological sites and useful for species‐level identification. This resource is intended to support archaeozoologists in their efforts to reconstruct past human activities, trade networks, and environmental conditions. It can also contribute to current conservation efforts by documenting the diversity and distribution of individual species‐level taxa of sturgeons in the historical past of Europe.