THE MAMMAL AND BIRD BONE FROM THE 1986 EXCAVATIONS AT CROWN COURT, NEWCASTLE ON TYNE, TYNE & WEAR. PARTS 1 & 2.
Author(s): L J Gidney
Animal bone was recovered from two areas, F and H, excavated to examine the development of the quayside area. Human activity begins in the 13th century on both sites and continues until the 20th century in Area H and post-15th century in Area F. Over 8,000 fragments of bone were recovered by hand during excavation, with further fragments from the sieved samples. The larger groups of bone are from the 14th to 16th century phases. Preservation is good in the earliest, waterlogged deposits but generally poor in the later phases. The collection from both areas largely consists of cattle and sheep/goat bones with some pig. Other species are present but their remains are scarce. There are some slight differences chronologically and spatially between the two areas: for example the relative proportion of sheep/goat bones increases in the later phases. There are no clear patterns of skeletal selectivity to suggest any specific sources for any of this material. Rather it all appears to derive from general mixed urban household refuse. While juvenile bone may well be under-represented the majority of the surviving bones are from animals that had reached reproductive age and thus may only have been consumed as food at the end ot their useful working lives.
- Report Number:
- 108/1989
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 39
- Keywords:
- Animal Bone Animal Remains
