THE ANIMAL BONE FROM HOLME HOUSE, PIERCEBRIDGE, CO. DURHAM
Author(s): L J Gidney
Excavations at Holme House, Piercebridge produced animalbone from late Iron Age circular structures and an adjacent Romano-British villa. The Iron Age structure was rebuilt and used in conjunction with the villa so most of the animal bone is thought to be from the first and second centuries A.D. A small quantity of bone was associated with fourth century re-occupation of part of the site. The collection of bone is not large, 1909 fragments of mammal and bird bone. Most of the bones are of cattle, sheep/goat and pig. Horse and dog are present, also hare, polecat and deer. Red and roe deer are represented. The bird bones include fowl, corvid, gooseand sparrowhawk. Shellfish were present but infrequent. One disturbed human burial was also found. The collection is interesting as it is the only early group to be studied from Piercebridge - the bones from excavations in Tofts field were reburied. Cattle and sheep/goat bones appear in similar numbers at Holme House whereas the later collections from Piercebridge are dominated by cattle bones.
- Report Number:
- 115/1990
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 36
- Keywords:
- Animal Bone Animal Remains Bird Bone Mollusca
