The presence and role of domestic geese and  ducks in Zuid Holland, 150-1700 AD

The history of domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) and geese (Anser anser domesticus) remains poorly understood and retains many open questions. This circumstance makes it difficult to assess the role of wildfowling as well as the economic and social impact of the domestication of ducks and geese in different periods. The lack of data is mainly caused by the difficulty of identifying archaeological bones as domestic, due to the existing overlap between anatid species and domestic and wild forms. Different dates are given in academic literature for their adoption in the Netherlands, ranging from the Iron Age to the Early Middle Ages in the case of domestic geese, and from the Roman period to the Late Middle Ages in the case of domestic ducks. This thesis applies a new osteometrical methodology (Poland, 2018) that allows to identify domestic forms and distinguish between anatid species with more confidence. As a case study, four archaeological assemblages from the Zuid...Show moreThe history of domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) and geese (Anser anser domesticus) remains poorly understood and retains many open questions. This circumstance makes it difficult to assess the role of wildfowling as well as the economic and social impact of the domestication of ducks and geese in different periods. The lack of data is mainly caused by the difficulty of identifying archaeological bones as domestic, due to the existing overlap between anatid species and domestic and wild forms. Different dates are given in academic literature for their adoption in the Netherlands, ranging from the Iron Age to the Early Middle Ages in the case of domestic geese, and from the Roman period to the Late Middle Ages in the case of domestic ducks. This thesis applies a new osteometrical methodology (Poland, 2018) that allows to identify domestic forms and distinguish between anatid species with more confidence. As a case study, four archaeological assemblages from the Zuid Holland province in the Netherlands are analysed, ranging from the Roman period to the 17th century AD: Voorburg-Arentsburg, Oegstgeest-Nieuw Rijngeest Zuid, Vlaardingen-Gat in de Markt and Rijswijk-Kerklaan 98. The new osteometrical methodology was highly successful in determining the variety of anatid species present in the four study cases. 53% of the analyzed elements were identified to the species level and 75% to at least the genus level, although the success varied according to the particular bone type and anatid group. Species diversity was much higher than expected in two of the sites (Oegstgeest and Rijswijk), and the analysis provided a more accurate quantification and species identification for the other two sites (Voorburg and Vlaardingen). It is determined that domestic geese were present in the Netherlands since at least 160-230 AD, and domestic ducks since at least 585-725 AD. The latter might also be present in the Roman assemblage, but the evidence is inconclusive. As of their economic role, domestic species constitute only a small percentage of the total consumed anatids and do not surpass 15-20% in any case. This is mainly caused by the weight of wildfowling in the Netherlands, concentrated during the winter season. Taphonomical analysis did not show substantial differences between the anthropic treatment of wild and domestic anatids. When compared to chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), these highly outnumber domestic geese and ducks since their remains usually constitute half of the birds in each assemblage. The economic role of chicken was therefore much higher and better established than that of geese and ducks. The sample size considered in this thesis is likely too small and biased to accurately detect any kind of evolution through time. In any case, no increase has been observed and the total percentages of domestic anatids seem to remain constant.Show less

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The presence and role of domestic geese and ducks in Zuid Holland, 150-1700 AD