Zooarchaeology of Celtiberian-Roman households: Animal use in Numantia (Soria, Spain)

Abstract

This paper presents faunal data from the Celtiberian-Roman oppidum of Numantia (Garray, Soria, Spain), particularly the results from two domestic units excavated between 1999 and 2000, House A and B. Both are located in the North sector of the town, using the Late Iron Age defensive rampart as a constructive terrace. These houses show the typical tripartite building pattern, separating the domestic space into three rooms and an outdoor courtyard.

Analysing 1,561 faunal remains, the main taxon in both domestic contexts are the caprines herd, followed by bovids and pigs. Most of them were adult individuals, although in House B there are also remains of infants and juveniles. We have also observed that in House A most remains came from the courtyard, whilst in House B they were recorded in a cobbled area, possibly the pavement of a street. Therefore, the largest concentration of zooarchaeological remains clusters in transit areas. Cut marks have been examined and are present in all anatomical sections of the three taxa (caprines, bovids, and horses). Finally, mortality patterns suggest that animals were used until the end of their lives for labour, fertiliser, wool and milk production. Animals were slaughtered and used for their meat when they were no longer productive.