FAUNAL REMAINS FROM CLOSEGATE I & II, NEWCASTLE, TYNE AND WEAR, 1988 & 1990 EXCAVATIONS.
Author(s): Simon Davis
The animal remains from Closegate, Newcastle, dated to the 13th to 18th centuries were recovered by sieving (5mm aperture). Most belonged to cattle, sheep and pig. Abundant fish bones (mainly herring, cod and haddock) were recovered by wet sieving (1mm aperture) a small volume of 'whole earth'. The higher ratio of fish to mammal bone recovered by this means indicates that fish probably comprised some 10 - 20% of the diet. An increasing importance of sheep over cattle during the period represented at Closegate as well as at other sites in Newcastle and elsewhere in England, may reflect the change from ox-drawn to horse-drawn ploughs, and the increasing importance of wool. Since a wide range of sheep ages is represented, the inhabitants of Newcastle probably purchased both animals bred for meat and retired wool and milk. The 13th-16th century cattle and sheep were rather small. However, the 17th-18th century sheep (some definitely dated to the end of the 17th century) were larger. This size increase may reflect post-medieval improvements in British farming practices.
- Report Number:
- 81/1991
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 49
- Keywords:
- Animal Bone Animal Remains Fish Bone
