Veronica Aniceti

Durante i lavori effettuati per la realizzazione della linea tramviaria in Corso dei Mille a Palermo, sono state condotte indagini archeologiche nell’area compresa fra l’antico ponte dell’Ammiraglio a Sud e la distrutta Porta di Termini a Nord. Gli scavi si sono svolti principalmente nella trincea aperta per la posa delle rotaie e i saggi sono stati individuati secondo i numeri civici e si possono raggruppare in due aree: Sud e Nord. In sintesi, sono state evidenziate quattro fasi di occupazione di questa zona: la più antica è caratterizzata da strutture murarie realizzate con muri a secco ottenuti da blocchi sbozzati, poggiati sul banco roccioso, legati con un po  di terra; in un caso è documentato anche l'utilizzo di mattoni crudi. La fase successiva presenta altre strutture murarie che in parte si sono sovrapposte alle precedenti. Una terza fase vede un'area cimiteriale ed infine, l' ultima è costituita da un tracciato stradale che sigilla i resti più antichi. Questa sintetica sequenza stratigrafica è riferibile, in base allo studio dei reperti ceramici, ancora in corso, ad un arco cronologico compreso fra il X (età islamica) e il XIII secolo (età sveva).

The zooarchaeological analyses of a faunal assemblage from Castleford, a Roman military and civilian site in West Yorkshire, are presented and discussed. The fort was in use in the late 1st century AD; a small settlement developed next to the fort and survived into the 4th century.
The assemblage here analysed was recovered from the vicus. The prevalence of cattle and the dearth of pig remains are typical of Roman low-status military sites; similarities and differences between the vicus and the fort are explored in terms of differential access to food resources.
Traits of specialisation become more apparent in the 2nd century, when cattle were consistently exploited for ploughing. Highly standardised patterns of animal exploitation were affected by the needs and preferences of Roman settlers; this is observed elsewhere in Britain and led to widespread changes in the production and distribution of animal products.
The late Roman phase witnesses a return to more generalised husbandry practices. A shift of dietary preferences from beef to mutton is attested by a major focus on sheep. This suggests that indigenous husbandry practices played a major role in this period.
The results are contextualised within the main trends of animal exploitation in Roman Britain.

This paper investigates the culture of pork consumption in Sicily by examining a number of archaeological faunal assemblages dated to chronological phases spanning from the Byzantine to the Norman/Aragonese period (7 th-14 th c. AD). Zooarchaeological analyses reveal substantial diachronic changes in the use of the main domesticates, particularly concerning pig frequencies. In the Islamic period (9 th-11 th c. AD), pig is poorly represented at urban sites; this is likely to reflect a socio-cultural acceptance of the Islamic religious precepts forbidding pork consumption. By contrast, and in continuity with the Roman and Byzantine periods, pigs are well-represented in rural settlements, thus indicating a more resilient attitude of these communities toward newly imported religious traditions. In the later Norman/Aragonese period, the frequency of pig increases at some urban sites, reflecting the fact that that pork prohibition had been lifted and that new food production and consumption practices were developed. Pig continues, however, to be almost absent at a number of urban sites and castles/fortified villages; this may suggest the persistence of Islamised communities in Sicily after the end of Islamic rule.

This paper presents a zooarchaeological analysis from the site of Spolverino (southern Tuscany, Italy). Archaeological excavations have uncovered a complex stratigraphy dated from the Roman Imperial period to Late Antiquity (late 1st- early 6th centuries AD). The industrial function of the site in Imperial times is partially reflected in the nature of the faunal assemblage. In Late Antiquity, Spolverino lost its original manufacturing functions, as many of the workshops were abandoned; our evidence, however, suggests that some livestock was kept, probably managed by a restricted group of people still living in that area. Some hunting was practiced throughout the occupation but it increased in the later periods. Remarkable, in Late Antiquity, is the occurrence of the fallow deer, an introduced species, rare in Roman contexts

Overexploitation has directly, negatively affected marine fish populations in the past half-century, modifying not only their abundance but their behaviour and life-history traits. The recovery and resilience of such populations is dependent upon their exploitation history, which often extends back millennia. Hence, data on when exploitation intensified and how populations were composed in historical periods, have the potential to reveal long-term population dynamics and provide context on the baselines currently used in fisheries management and conservation. Here, we setup a framework for investigations on the exploitation history of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean by collating records of their zooarchaeological remains and critically reviewing these alongside the literature. Then, we outline how novel multidisciplinary applications on BFT remains may be used to document long-term population dynamics. Our review of literature provides clear evidence of BFT overexploitation during the mid-th century ce. Furthermore, a strong case could be made that the intensification of BFT exploitation extends back further to at least the th century ce, if not the th-th century ce, in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. However, a host of archaeological evidence would suggest that BFT exploitation may have been intensive since antiquity. Altogether, this indicates that by the currently used management baselines of the s, population abundance and complexity was already likely to have declined from historical levels, and we identify how biomolecular and morphometric analyses of BFT remains have the potential to further investigate this.

Il testo che segue riguarda la nostra ricerca archeologica sulla Sicilia bizantina, islamica e normanno-sveva e in particolare riporta le ultime scoperte a Castronovo di Sicilia, che includono il riconoscimento di una chiesa del XII-XIII secolo sul Monte Kassar, la continuazione dello scavo a Casale San Pietro e una sintesi delle nuove ricognizioni nelle sue vicinanze. Quest’ultimo sito rimane il focus principale del Progetto ERC sictransit, ma in questa sede diamo anche conto dei primi risultati di un’indagine più ampia, che include una grossa quantità di reperti che provengono da tutta la Sicilia da siti scavati in precedenza (Fig 1). Questi reperti consistino in ceramiche, metalli e vetri assieme a resti umani, animali e vegetali, che vengono analizzati nei laboratori delle università partner del progetto: York, Roma e Lecce. I principali metodi scientifici applicati sono: analisi tipologiche, petrografiche e del contenuto organico delle ceramiche da cucina e da tra-sporto; degli isotopi stabili e del DNA antico sui resti umani e animali per determinare la dieta e l’ascendenza genetica; infine la identificazione tassonomica e la caratterizzazione isotopica degli insiemi di resti botanici per comprendere le loro relazioni con il clima e con le diverse fasi storiche. Il progetto “Sicily in Transition” (acronym: Sictransit) combina quindi ricerche archeologiche, bioarcheologiche e biomolecolari in un unico progetto integrato. Gli obiettivi attesi sono stati suddivisi, per comodità e chiarezza, in tre principali aree di studio, vale a dire: agricoltura (e cibo), scambi e demografia. Infine concludiamo con una valutazione della ricerca svolta sul campo e delle prospettive di indagine dei tre laboratori

La città di Castronovo di Sicilia (PA) e i suoi dintorni sono attualmente oggetto di ricerche archeologiche condotte dalle università di York, Roma e Lecce in collaborazione con la Soprintendenza per i Beni culturali e ambientali di Palermo e con il sostegno del Comune di Castronovo. Quattro diversi insediamenti sono stati indagati per mezzo di prospezioni e scavi. Sul Monte Kassar, interpretabile, allo stato attuale delle ricerche, come una fortezza bizantina dell’ VIII–IX secolo, nel 2015 sono state individuate strutture con funzione abitativa all’interno e in appoggio alle fortificazioni, mentre nel 2016 sono stati scavati i resti di una “casaforte” (la cosiddetta “casermetta"). Sul Colle San Vitale, i ruderi delle strutture medievali ancora in piedi sono stati oggetto di una prospezione di alta precisione, come anche la città vecchia di Castronovo, dove anche sono stati individuate e cartografate le acque sotterranee e un sistema di irrigazione. Infine, a Casale San Pietro, nella pianura vicino a Castronovo e sulle rive del fiume Platani, un insediamento esteso di epoca tardoromana e bizantina (orientativa- mente dei secoli V–VII secolo) è stato parzialmente identificato attraverso prospezioni geofisiche, raccolte di superficie e sondaggi. Nel 2015 e 2016 è stato possibile dimostrare in un’area di scavo (Int 5) che l’insediamento di epoca bizantina (la cosiddetta agro-town) è stato rioccupato da uno di epoca islamica e normanna (IX–XII secolo).
L’attuale campagna di ricerche sul Medioevo nel Comune di Castronovo di Sicilia (PA) è stata avviata nel 2014 e prosegui- ta nel 2015. Nel corso del 2016, queste indagini hanno assunto un ruolo centrale nel progetto più ampio finanziato dall’European Research Council (SICTRANSIT). L’obiettivo centrale di questo progetto è di comprendere il carattere delle trasformazioni economiche, ambientali e sociali dell’intera Sicilia tra il VI e il XIII secolo .
La relazione che segue presenta i risultati ottenuti nel 2016 a Castronovo nei quattro insediamenti principali e una breve descrizione delle ricerche in corso sulla ceramica, la fauna, e i reperti particolari effettuata dai responsabili delle loro anali- si. Infine, si conclude con una valutazione del significato della campagna del 2016 e uno sguardo alle prossime tappe del progetto.

ABSTRACT
Durante i lavori per la linea tramviaria in Corso dei Mille a Palermo, sono stati condotti alcuni saggi archeologici, che hanno permesso di mettere in luce importanti testimonianze riferibili ad un ampio arco cronologico compreso tra il X e il XIII secolo. Nell’area nord, in alcuni strati datati al X-XI sec., è stata individuata una notevole quantità di cavicchie ossee di capra (Capra hircus), associate con scorie di fusione ferrose. Nell’area sud è stato rinvenuto uno scarico ricco di ceramica e comprendente diversi indicatori di produzione, ascrivibile anch’esso all’età islamica.

During the works for a tramline in Corso dei Mille (Palermo, Sicily) archaeological excavations were conducted. The excavations revealed important archaeological evidence dated to a period ranging from the 10th to the 13th century AD. In the north area, among these findings, a significant amount of caprine (Capra hircus) horn cores were identified in contexts dated to the course of the 10th-11th century AD.  In the south area, a large pottery dump with kiln waste was found, dating back to the Islamic age.

Teamwork-based zooarchaeology teaching and outreach events represent an invaluable source of communication among academic researchers and towards the public audience. In the last decade, the zooarchaeology team from the Department of Archaeology in Sheffield (United Kingdom) has always been proactive in participating to several outreach events and in organising public-oriented zooarchaeology short courses.
The reason that lies behind such enthusiastic and coral participation of all the Sheffield zooarchaeology team members is that we believe that inclusive, rather than exclusive, research is the key to encourage the spread of science education among the wider public, as well as to build awareness of the importance of (zoo)archaeology in contemporary societies.
In order to do so, different strategies of communication have been tested during these years. These have to be adapted according to different audiences (e.g. school children, adolescents, adults, elderly, families), type of events (university open day, history and archaeology festivals, scientific talks in informal environments etc.). The main message emerging from our experience is that the choice of topics, tools and activities as well as advertisement strategies need to be guided by the basic principles of social interaction and learning, with special care towards the non-specialists and more particular age-groups.
In this talk, we want to present our experience at the Pint of Science, a yearly festival organised in various world locations that brings scientists to local pubs, to discuss their latest research with the public. This is one of many activities that aim to fill the well-known gap between professionals and the public, to which we owe our existence as researchers.

Roman husbandry practices impacted considerably on the way domestic animals were managed in the various provinces of the Empire. On many British sites dated to this period, there is increasing evidence for a specialisation of animal exploitation. In particular, cattle were intensively exploited for traction and meat production. Increased animal mobility has been revealed by biometrical analyses, which suggest the introduction and spread in Britain of larger cattle aimed at improving average livestock size. In addition, strontium stable isotope analyses at an Iron Age and Roman site showed that cattle mobility during the Roman period was higher compared to the Mid- and Late Iron Age.
The collapse of the political and economic system which underpinned such changes, resulted in a number of modifications to animal husbandry, which in the Early Anglo-Saxon period followed a more generalised and self-sufficient pattern typical of subsistence economies.
This study presents the results of carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis on cattle teeth from two Late Roman sites (Pakenham and Icklingham) and one Early Anglo-Saxon settlement (West Stow) in northwest Suffolk.
The application of stable isotope studies in zooarchaeology represents a well-known and widespread, though still under-exploited technique of analysis, which can potentially reveal important aspects of animal economy and landscape management. These studies rely on the fact that the proportions of different stable isotopes from certain elements vary according to different climatic, environmental and geological conditions and, in the case of animals, nutrition. Hence, stable isotope analyses on animal bones and teeth from archaeological sites can provide essential information on animal management.
The results from oxygen isotope analysis are similar for the Late Roman and Early Anglo-Saxon sites, as expected from three sites lying very close to each other. The carbon stable isotope values, however, are on average higher for Early Anglo-Saxon West Stow, as demonstrated by both visual representations of the results and by statistical tests.
In contrast to these results, at Portchester (Hampshire) a similar study on cattle remains has revealed lower values for the Early Anglo-Saxon period; these have been interpreted as a move away from foddering, which was likely practiced during the Roman period. Although we cannot exclude that the opposite occurred in the case-studies here considered, it remains an interpretation difficult to support. Climatic amelioration could also justify higher carbon isotope values, but there is currently no evidence for substantial climatic changes in the post-Roman period. A better explanation for the values observed might rely on a combination of environmental conditions and animal management. The three sites, in particular Icklingham and West Stow, lie next to the Breckland, a low plateau characterised by particularly dry soils and surrounded by the lower claylands. Higher carbon values at West Stow could then be justified if Early Anglo-Saxon settlers would have herded their animals in the immediate proximity of the village (mainly on the dry soils of the Breckland). On the contrary, and as attested by similar studies, Late Roman cattle would have been grazed in a wider area, including the Breckland but also extending onto the claylands; possibly, the sites were also supplied with animals reared in regions further afield.
In line with the rest of zooarchaeological evidence from the sites, the results from stable isotope analysis support the view that during the Roman period the production and distribution systems of animal products were differently organised, with settlements being supplied from a wider area and animals being herded and moved through longer distances.

This session aims to highlight the important role of zooarchaeology in assessing the presence of dietary taboos in faunal assemblages, and interpreting their socio-cultural, religious, and economic significance. The session is open to all zooarchaeological studies dealing with dietary taboos in different geographical areas and periods, from prehistory to contemporary times.
In archaeology, the characterisation of the socio-cultural background of past communities is often based on the study of buildings, funerary practices, and material culture. Despite the considerable amount of animal bones and teeth recovered from archaeological sites, this valuable material is less often used to determine identities in past societies. Nevertheless, animal remains are often associated with food consumption, an important cultural identifier. When humans recurrently eat a specific food, this becomes part of their cultural roots, whatever the origin of such consumption practices. Equally, the prohibition of some food products can be associated with specific cultural backgrounds. In the literature, the avoidance of eating certain foods (beef, pork, fish, etc.) is commonly defined as ‘food taboo’. This definition, however, does not only refer to the avoidance of consuming specific animal species, but also to the rules on how animal products were processed. Indeed, in some cultures (e.g. Jewish or Muslim) there are also well-defined butchery rules that make certain animals, or parts of thereof, allowed and others prohibited for consumption. This set of butchery practices may leave visible traces on the bones, thus allowing the identification of specific cultural practices.
For all these reasons, the zooarchaeological study of animal remains has great potentials in detecting the presence of dietary taboos and in highlighting their wide implications within past communities.
This session particularly welcomes papers presenting zooarchaeological case-studies, regional syntheses, and methodological approaches to the study of food taboos and/or particular butchery patterns linked to specific cultural practices.

Food economy and foodways of religious communities are rarely in the main focus of research in archaeology and zooarchaeology. The main reasons behind this are simple: the paucity of the available archaeological data, and the difficulty of attributing archaeological record to particular religious groups. These problems have been addressed by a number of case studies published in recent years, which showed the potential of archaeology in identifying the presence of Jews and Muslims in the past, and have contributed to a growing body of evidence. These studies, however, have mostly been site-specific, and little attention has been placed on large-scale analysis of development and changes in the foodways of Jews and Muslims. This session aims to address this issue, bringing together and summarising research from a wide array of archaeological contexts.
We welcome contributions focusing on food economy and foodways within two main themes. The first one is concerned with food-related interactions between Jews and Muslims or with their Christian neighbours. This may include the analysis of the quality of animals (size, sex, and age) or meat (specific cuts) traded between local religious majorities and minorities, which may provide information on the disproportion of power and the relationship of these groups. The second theme concerns regional changes, developments, and differences in foodways within Jewish and Muslim communities. This includes local status and wealth of particular Jewish or Muslim households, evolution of kosher and halal foodways, and local food-related traditions in different countries based on species and body part representation, butchery patterns, supported by material culture and literary sources.
The session is open to papers using animal remains and/or material culture from Jewish and Muslim archaeological sites of domestic nature from different chronological periods.

DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: 14TH OF FEBRUARY 2019

Goal: This project aims to contribute to academic research on archaeological cervid remains, by providing a tool to separate red deer, fallow deer, and roe deer bones. The method relies on the collection of biometrical data from modern specimens of known species (and, where possible, sex and age), to identify size and shape indices which can better separate red deer from fallow deer values, and fallow deer from roe deer values; in turn, values from archaeological cervid remains can be plotted to attempt identification. The measurements chosen will include standard ones as well as new measurements created to translate biometrically morphological diagnostic features identified by previous studies (Di Stefano 1995; Lister 1996). Preliminary analyses of the data so far collected from the Sheffield and Historic England zooarchaeology reference collections provided promising results.
An important advantage is represented by the combination of size and shape indices analyses. Red deer is larger than fallow deer, and this latter is larger than roe deer. The body size of these two species changed through time according to a range of environmental and anthropogenic variables, and nowadays substantial geographical size differences persist throughout Europe. Size overlaps are enhanced by sexual dimorphism. For these reasons, size alone cannot be used to separate red deer from fallow deer remains; however, it can be used to enhance the separation provided by shape indices.
The development of a biometrical method to separate red deer, fallow deer, and roe deer remains would rely on more objective separation criteria than morphological approaches; the method would also produce graphs which can be directly scrutinised to assess the validity of separation. Alternative identification methods, such as aDNA analyses, can be very effective but are constrained by severe cost limitations and are destructive; ZooMS provides a cheaper alternative, but the peptide mass fingerprints of these species are too similar to attempt separation. Further advantages provided by a biometrical approach, therefore, are ultimately reflected by the low-tech nature of the method, which makes it easy to apply in any circumstances and extremely accessible and inclusive.