ANIMAL BONES FROM EXCAVATIONS AT ANNETWELL STREET, CARLISLE, 1982-4 PERIOD 3: THE EARLIER TIMBER FORT
Author(s): S Stallibrass
Approximately 9,000 hand-recovered and 4,000 sieved fragments of animal bone from a Roman (Flavian) timber fort were recorded and analysed in detail. The deposits were waterlogged and preservation of surface characteristics is excellent. The entire collection appears to be refuse from food consumption and preparation. Rubbish seems to have been strewn around the fort in all types of context, both inside the structures (usually associated with phases of dereliction or disuse) and outside in road surfaces and other deposits. No middens per se were located within the excavated area of the fort. The collection is dominated by Cattle bones, most of them from mature adults, but with a significant proportion of sub-adults also present. Many of the Cattle mandibles have slight 'creases' or pitting in their articular facets. Although the relative proportions of different elements suggest that whole carcases are represented, there is a superabundance of scapulae, which may derive from smoking or other meat-processing activities. The sheep/goat collection is dominated by Sheep bones, and derives from a wider age spread than the Cattle. Pigs are less frequent and are all from domesticsized animals. Bones of hunted species are very rare. Despite the fact that 10% of the contexts were sampled for bulk sieving, bones of fish are extremely scarce.
- Report Number:
- 132/1991
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 170
- Keywords:
- Animal Bone Animal Remains
