Domestic Cattle in the Romanised Southeast of the Alps: An Archeozoological View

Abstract

This study of the role played by cattle (Bos taurus – Linnaeus, 1758) in the Romanised southeast of the Alps has included 8,579 remains of the species. Dating from the mid-1st century BC to the 6th century AD, they originate from 22 samples with at least 100 taxonomically identified bones or teeth (Table 1; Figure 1). In addition to these, seven additional minor samples are occasionally considered as well (Table 2), but their use was limited to the role of independent reference points in the testing of hypotheses, which were based on results yielded by the analysis of the 22 ‘major’ samples. The differences between sites in the methodology of archaeological excavations and of gathering the finds, in the approach to their taxonomic identification, in the extent of taphonomical differences and in the degree of fragmentation (Figure 2) were generally small.

A survey of the share of various mammals reveals an evident predominance of the bones and teeth of cattle, sheep/goats and pigs, with a marginal role delegated to wild game. From about the mid-1st century BC to the 4th century AD, the most numerous is in fact the cattle (Figure 3). It was only with the beginning of late antiquity that major changes took place: the political instability and insecurity, as well as the accompanying settlement changes, heavily reduced the extent of cattle-breeding, while preference was given to the far less demanding sheep/goat and/or pig. These circumstances also correspond with the simultaneous increase in poultry.

An analysis of the hierarchy of cattle-breeding aims reveals that while cattle certainly represented the central source of red meat for the population, cattle-breeders were primarily interested in exploiting the strength of the animals and possibly in acquiring milk (the latter especially in the context of the economically ever more self-sufficient settlements of late antiquity). The preferred slaughter age was four years and more (Figure  5; Table 3), and still increased with time Figure 6). An analysis of sex structure yields a comparable ratio between cows and bulls/oxen.

The decline of cattle-breeding in late antiquity was accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in the animals’ average size, which may be attributed to the disappearance of the larger, progressive, ‘Roman’ breeds and the return to the less demanding, smaller, traditional local forms. The latter had been present in the area as early as the Iron Age but largely ousted in the Roman period by imported, deliberately developed new breeds. This demanding cattle-breeding branch, however, was presumably impossible to maintain at the earlier level in the changed circumstances of late antiquity, which were finally to cause major changes in the settlement pattern. Another factor would have been the partial loss of zootechnic skills.

The conclusion provides an insight into the role played by cattle in the ancient spiritual concepts of this part of Europe. The results point to obvious differences between the assortment of animal bones and teeth found in indi- vidual graves and the ordinary kitchen waste of the locals, as the latter includes a higher ratio of cattle and a lower ratio of poultry (Table 4). True, the results obtained may partly (or even primarily) reflect the different approaches to carving up larger and smaller animals: an offering of beef would have con- sisted of meat already separated from the bones. But a perfectly real alternative possibility, supported at least by the abovementioned discrepancy in the poultry bone ratio, is that the grave offerings tended to contain superior dis- hes, significantly different from the community’s daily grub.