ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE FROM INSECT REMAINS AND PARASITE EGGS FROM THE LEWTHWAITES LANE A SITE, THE LANES, CARLISLE
Author(s): J Carrott, M Dainton, I Kemenes, H Kenward
Subsamples from nineteen contexts, eighteen of Roman date and one medieval, have been examined for insect remains and eggs of intestinal parasitic nematodes. No phase was represented by more than three samples and the contexts were of diverse archaeological nature. Two thirds of the samples from Roman deposits gave rather few remains, of generally fairly mixed nature but often with a substantial component of taxa from natural or semi-natural habitats. Some Roman groups were much larger. They were of two kinds: those rich in decomposers indicative of mouldering matter, probably mostly stable manure, and those rich in moorland/heathland insects, presumably representing imported turf. Two samples contained several or many wireworm (Elateridae) larvae, probably of a species believed to be able to exploit peat. The single medieval deposit included few insects, and worm eggs were rare in all the subsamples examined.
- Report Number:
- 77/1992
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 32
- Keywords:
- Animal Remains Insect Parasites, Pests and Diseases
