ANIMAL BONES FROM CAMBER CASTLE, EAST SUSSEX, 1963-1983
Author(s): B Connell, Simon Davis, A Locker
Over 6,000 animal bones from Camber come from a wide spectrum of species. Sheep, cattle, pig, chicken, rabbit and several fish predominate. Beef was the main source of meat. There were no zoo-archaeological differences between phases or across the site indicating that the bones are derived from the main period of the castle's use - mid 16th to mid 17th centuries. This is a short span and provides a useful bench-mark for comparison with other assemblages. The large farm animals and most fish were presumably obtained locally. However the soldiers themselves may have hunted many of the birds and smaller mammals. The species spectrum reflects the environment - marsh, estuary, and sea. While most species are undoubtedly the remains of what the soldiers ate, the status of the rabbit is unclear. The faunal assemblage does not reflect high status, but rather has the flavour of an urban collection. Camber is not therefore a typical castle. The sheep and cattle were much larger than earlier sheep and cattle from various parts of England, and even larger than those from several contemporary sites. This may reflect the advances in Sussex and Kent agriculture in Henry VIII's reign. The cattle age at slaughter pattern is similar to those from other contemporary sites. Unlike earlier cattle, much of the Camber beef was derived from veal calves. The post-medieval shift to veal may reflect a countrywide shift from oxen to horses for power and a greater interest in cow milk.
- Report Number:
- 107/1997
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 65
- Keywords:
- Animal Bone Animal Remains Bird Bone Fish Bone
