The HMC project started in 2021 to trace interconnection patterns in the rural region close to the city of Chalkida in Euboea, during the Medieval period. Field surveys in 2022 and 2023 at the...Show moreThe HMC project started in 2021 to trace interconnection patterns in the rural region close to the city of Chalkida in Euboea, during the Medieval period. Field surveys in 2022 and 2023 at the sites of Feges, Bailelekas, and Kastri, and the excavation trench of Kastri in 2023 retrieved multiple animal bones, requiring an archaeozoological analysis that would shed light on inquiries related to their nature and connection to the studied archaeological sites. This, in combination with the fact that no adequate archaeozoological study has been conducted in the Medieval Euboea, has been the main reason why this thesis was essential for both Byzantine Archaeology and Archaeozoology. For the current thesis, I studied faunal material coming from mammals. The main research questions aimed to comprehend from what period the material was derived, what species were present, how they were exploited, and whether these results are equivalent or different from the previous Early Byzantine Period. In addition, other questions included the interpretation of the main excavation site of the project, Kastri, based on the faunal analysis, and consequently, how animal remains can complement an archaeological analysis. It was determined that the faunal material derived from a Middle Byzantine refusion pit, and that caprines, pigs, and cows were mainly exploited for their primary products. Other species that were present included hare which would possibly be hunted, as well as limited rodent and dog bones. While not studied for the current thesis, the existence of fishes and birds was also mentioned to state the variety of animals that were probably used during the period. Most animals were exploited in similar ways as in the earlier period, except for cattle, which showed primarily signs of meat exploitation, contradicting their primary use as working animals in other assemblages from the earlier era. As for the function of Kastri, it was considered a wealthy premise of a central or administrative character, where animals would be gathered, slaughtered, and consumed in situ. It was further understood that faunal remains are essential for a vast number of archaeological questions regarding the period of interest, especially when it comes to the determination of socio-economic-related inquiries. This initial endeavour of archaeozoological analysis in these faunal remains is one of the first in the area, but also one of the very few ones regarding the period. Thus, along with answering the research questions of this thesis, new ones arise that would enlighten us more about the site in the future, especially regarding other species, diets, paleoenvironmental interpretation, as well as the chronology of the material.Show less
Schöningen locality is a significant complex for understanding hominin behaviour and their adaptation to the changing environment during the Lower Palaeolithic in Central Europe. Schöningen 13II-1 ...Show moreSchöningen locality is a significant complex for understanding hominin behaviour and their adaptation to the changing environment during the Lower Palaeolithic in Central Europe. Schöningen 13II-1 (site 13, channel II, level 1) was the first and oldest sedimentary cycle of Schöningen 13II from the bottom, dating to MIS 9 interglacial at around 300 ka. The climate at Schöningen 13II-1 was reconstructed to be the warmest compared to the climate of other layers at Schöningen 13II. The landscape of Schöningen 13II-1 was featured with forested and regularly flooded marsh. The preservation of faunal assemblages as well as lithics provides a good opportunity to conduct taphonomic and spatial analysis to reconstruct the depositional and post-depositional processes of Schöningen 13II-1. The taphonomic analysis of large mammal remains has revealed that both hominins and carnivores were involved in the accumulation and modification of faunal deposits which were evidenced by the percussion marks and carnivore gnawing marks, fragmentation pattern, as well as the skeletal presentations. The coexistence of hominins and carnivores was also documented in fragments with percussion and carnivore gnawing marks on the surface. However, the absence of overlap between these marks made it challenging to determine which group initially accessed the carcasses. The total absence of hominin cut marks and less frequent carnivore-induced modifications might be the results of abiotic agents that engaged in the taphonomic processes of altering bone surfaces, which were consistent with the varying degrees of weathering and abrasion of bones. For the results of spatial analysis, the fauna remains were distributed in a clustered pattern, which could be the results of where the fauna died naturally, such as rhinoceros bones. Additionally, the influence of hominin activities and carnivores carrying carcasses away first and consuming them cannot be ruled out. The patterns of orientation and vertical distribution indicate that different parts of Schöningen 13II-1 might have been affected by post-depositional processes to various extents which could be the bioturbation, and abiotic agents such as water movement from flooding and glacial erosion. Due to the post-depositional processes, it was hard to differentiate each accumulation event by hominins and other predators that happened at Schöningen 13II-1. However, regarding vertical distribution, the accumulations of faunal remains and lithics were mainly concentrated in the upper sublayers of Schöningen 13II-1. This could be interpreted as the outcome of spatial palimpsest formed over an unknown time scale. Within this context, various independent events involving biotic or abiotic agents happened at Schöningen 13II-1, depositing atop one another in a sequence that might have been disturbed by post-depositional processes. Despite the impact of post-depositional factors that might obscure the original spatial and taphonomic information of the accumulations, it is plausible to conclude that hominins were already well adapted to the interglacial environments by consciously taking advantage of forested lakeland with rich resources and less competition with other predators, to exploit botanic and faunal resources during the Middle Pleistocene in Central Europe.Show less
This master's thesis aims to explore the relationship between humans and dogs during the Roman period around the Dutch Rhine Delta and take a small step towards increasing the current knowledge of...Show moreThis master's thesis aims to explore the relationship between humans and dogs during the Roman period around the Dutch Rhine Delta and take a small step towards increasing the current knowledge of how people interacted with and utilised their dogs. To gain further insight into this matter, osteometric data from archaeological dog remains were collected and examined. Additionally, literary records and iconographic sources were examined. Within research, certain key elements are of great importance, comprising of the functionality of the dog, their morphology, their pathologies and how the dogs were treated. In addition to examining bone material from the dogs included in the research, several factors have been added to the study to gain a better understanding of the relationship between humans and dogs in the Roman period in the Dutch Rhine Delta. It also evaluates variations between the research sites included. An interdisciplinary approach is employed since a combination of historical, archaeological and archaeozoological information is used. This type of research has already been conducted in other countries than the Netherlands, see reference list, but this type of research has not yet been applied in Dutch studies. Other research has proven that the relationship between humans and dogs is more complex than previously thought. In particular, the treatment of dogs at the time of death has resulted in a diversity of observations (Gene, 2018; Grieve, 2012).Show less
The study of molluscs in Spain has mainly been isolated to prehistory. The faunal assemblage of Tabacalera includes marine molluscs from the Roman, medieval and postmedieval layers. This thesis...Show moreThe study of molluscs in Spain has mainly been isolated to prehistory. The faunal assemblage of Tabacalera includes marine molluscs from the Roman, medieval and postmedieval layers. This thesis focuses on the analysis of the medieval and post-medieval period, as there is little research done in the wider region of Asturias regarding molluscs from these historical periods This site differs from other sites in neighbouring provinces (Galicia and Léon), where common species, like mussels and oysters are not part of the archaeological record. However, the assemblage mainly presents continuity throughout the different phases of the site, where most of shells were used for consumption, and with limpets as the most abundant species. The diet at Tabacalera does not heavily rely on molluscs but a more complete overview of the subsistence strategy can be derived from this analysis. This study also adds to the overall malacological research of Spain, especially with the identification of limpets to species level. This is done as a start of creating a more indepth archaeomalacological record, in which the differences between close-related species can be investigated.Show less
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...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
This thesis concerns the taxonomic and taphonomic identification of bird species from a faunal assemblage found in the Northern Emporium project excavation of a workshop belonging to the Viking-Age...Show moreThis thesis concerns the taxonomic and taphonomic identification of bird species from a faunal assemblage found in the Northern Emporium project excavation of a workshop belonging to the Viking-Age marketplace site in the town of Ribe, Denmark. The assemblage consists of at least 27 bird species, 26 of which are wild species, belonging to 13 different bird families and 9 orders. The majority of the birds are from ducks and waders, and domestic fowl is also noted, but in very low numbers. The specific bird taxa at the site indicated the birds were caught from in the local regions; the Wadden Sea area. Ribe was a nodal point in a larger network of trade and exchange, an emporium, during the Viking Age (approximately 8th-10th centuries BC). The aim is to not only understand how the assemblage was accumulated, i.e. what activities can be inferred from it, but how it related to the diachronic trends in the Viking Age Scandinavian towns of trade with relation to the role of birds in terms of diet, economy, and socio-cultural terms. The identified species indicate a significant difference from other contemporaneous sites and other emporia. Ribe has the largest diversity in taxa. The primary skeletal elements found are wing bones, suggesting that the birds were captured for meat and possibly feather extraction. Birds are good environmental indicators and their presence are a testament to the changing seasons and certain environmental conditions. The avifauna informs that bird harvesting or hunting likely occurred all year-round, with possible increases during autumn and spring months where many of the migrating birds arrive to the coastal region. Evidently, the seasonality of bird procurement can also aid in the overall interpretation of the permanency of the settlement.Show less
This thesis presents a new survey of archaeozoological data from 10 towns, with a total of 60 assemblages, from the medieval county of Holland to determine diachronic and geographic trends in the...Show moreThis thesis presents a new survey of archaeozoological data from 10 towns, with a total of 60 assemblages, from the medieval county of Holland to determine diachronic and geographic trends in the meat consumption in urban areas. The methods used are based on the recent article by Ervynck and van Neer, which suggested that integrating the archaeozoological data from the southern Low Countries with research from the Netherlands would be beneficial for current research (Ervynck and van Neer 2017, 72). The research was performed by calculating the relative frequencies of cattle, pig and sheep, and consequently, calculating the Pig/Sheep ratio. This data has been collected in one survey. The diachronic and geographic trends that emerged from this survey were investigated and compared to the results from similar research in Flanders. The results of this study suggest that environmental factors were a very important influence in the consumption patterns of medieval towns. There are similarities in the relative frequencies and Pig/Sheep ratios of towns with similar environmental factors, mostly those towns located in areas of salt marshes, peat bogs and alluvial districts. These environments are much more suitable for sheep herding than pig herding. Other trends are less clear. The Pig/Sheep ratio is somewhat higher in towns such as Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Haarlem than expected from the research done in Flanders. It is still uncertain what the main cause for these high Pig/Sheep ratios is. However, it does seem that the consumption of pig is likely to have been less than the consumption of sheep based on the relative frequencies. Future research on these towns in comparison to the countryside is therefore advised.Show less
This research is about the mammal remains that were found during the excavation at the IPSE site in Delft. The aim of this research is to determine the domesticated animals which were slaughtered...Show moreThis research is about the mammal remains that were found during the excavation at the IPSE site in Delft. The aim of this research is to determine the domesticated animals which were slaughtered and consumed in the periods between 1350 and 1800 AD, the age of the animals and the ratio between the species of “De Paardenmarkt” area in Delft. Observations were made to determine the change in animal consumption by the inhabitants through these periods. Not much is known about the poor people in the Dutch Middle Ages, because most historical information is used to focus on the rich or middle class people. The population living on the site is proposed to belong to the lower and middle class of society. But the less wealthy citizens had an important place in society as well. They were a large portion of the class society, which consisted of the clergy at the top, then nobility and lastly farmers and labourers. With this archaeological approach, the research will contribute to the reconstruction of the poorer part of the community of the city of Delft in the Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance.Show less
Op de site Schöningen (Nedersaksen, Duitsland) zijn in de afgelopen twintig jaar archeologische resten uit het Vroeg Paleolithicum aangetroffen, die van groot wetenschappelijk belang voor de...Show moreOp de site Schöningen (Nedersaksen, Duitsland) zijn in de afgelopen twintig jaar archeologische resten uit het Vroeg Paleolithicum aangetroffen, die van groot wetenschappelijk belang voor de archeologie. De site kreeg haar bekendheid door de vondst van acht houten speren met een intiele datering van 400.000 jaar BP, die worden gezien als de vroegste complete jachtwerktuigen (Thieme 1997). Naast deze speren is er een groot scala aan goed geconserveerd vondstmateriaal aangetroffen, bestaande uit vuurstenen werktuigen, botanische resten, resten van insecten en vooral grote hoeveelheden dierlijk botmateriaal. Het onderzoek betreffende het botmateriaal is in de laatste twee decennia uitgevoerd door mederwerkers en studenten van de Faculteit der Archeologie, Universiteit Leiden. Bij dit onderzoek lag de focus op het skeletmateriaal van paarden, omdat van deze soort het meeste materiaal is teruggevonden, waarbij een groot percentage ook sporen bevat van menselijk handelen. Door de combinatie van het skeletmateriaal van de paarden met de speren is het beeld ontstaan dat de site het bewijs heeft geleverd voor jacht in het Vroege Paleolithicum. In deze scriptie heeft het onderzoek zich gericht op het materiaal van hertachtigen (Cervidae), afkomstig van de Vroeg Paleolithische vindplaatsen van de site Schöningen. Door middel van het determineren en het systematisch beschrijven van al het botmateriaal is de rol van de herten binnen de site Schöningen onder de loep genomen. Daarbij is zowel de paleontologische als de archeologische kant belicht. De belangrijkste vraagstelling was of de herten als achtergrondfauna kunnen worden beschouwd of net als de paarden door de mens gebruikt zijn voor consumptie. Tijdens het onderzoek zijn drie soorten Cervidae aangetroffen, namelijk ree, edelhert en reuzenhert. De fragmentatie van het skeletmateriaal toont aan dat natuurlijke tafonomische processen de overhand hebben gehad. Daarnaast zijn enkel op de vindplaats Schöningen13II-4 skeletresten met snij en schraapsporen aangetroffen, maar in minder grote aantallen dan bij het paardenmateriaal. Deze sporen zijn in de meeste gevallen het resultaat van scavenging, niet van jacht. Ook de verspreiding van het botmateriaal op de vindplaats Schöningen 13II-4 wijkt af van de verspreiding van het paardenmateriaal. Al deze factoren maken dat de hertachtigen op de site Schöningen kunnen worden beschouwd als natuurlijke achtergrondfauna.Show less
