The faunal remains of a roman well from Europark-Zuid, Sint-

Niklaas, Belgium.

Kim Aluwé

Introduction

The last decade a great number of rural sites from the Roman

period have been found in Flanders, Belgium. Whereas the focus

in the past was on castella, villas and important vici; the

rural sites are now the centre of Roman Archaeology in Belgium.

Main research questions mostly concern the roman influence on

the local population, changes in behaviour and living

circumstances, agriculture and animal herding strategies,

burial and rituals and landscape reconstructions.

Unfortunately, many sites are excavated but processing and

analysis is often delayed for several years. Scientific

research is expensive and labour-intensive, which makes it one

of the steps that is postponed.

The preservation of faunal remains on Roman rural sites in

Flanders is rather bad and only bones in favourable conditions

are preserved. Especially in wells and other waterlogged

conditions several animal remains can be sometimes preserved.

In many cases the animals found in these wells can be linked to

the environment, ritualistic depositions or waste. Although not

much is known about rituals in rural environments, the

identification and interpretation of animal bones in single

wells can contribute to this blank spot of the life in Roman

periods in Flanders.

The site: Europark-Zuid, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

The site in this study is located in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

(fig. 1). Excavations executed by the “Archeologische Dienst

Waasland” from 2008-2010 revealed several rural settlements

from the Iron Age and Roman period (Lauwers & Van Vaerenbergh

2010, p. 1). These are situated on a natural sand ridge that

dominated the past landscape.

Fig. 1: map of

northern part of

Belgium with

position of

Sint-Niklaas

(google maps)

From 800-500 BC, during the Iron Age, at least three separate

yards with a house and structures to stock grain could be found

by the archaeologists (Lauwers & Van Vaerenbergh 2010, p. 1).

In the traces left by these buildings pottery was found. The

types of pottery found aided to date the structures. From this

period one tree-trunk well was present. Wood of this well will

be used later for dendrochronology.

The site was also used by farmers during the Roman period

(Lauwers & Van Vaerenbergh 2010, p. 1-2). From about 50 AD to

the third quarter of the second century AD three generations of

two neighbouring households are presumed to have lived there.

Every generation had built their own house where humans lived

together with the animals. Three wells from this period are

found and it is suggested that the two neighbours shared a

common well every generation. The wood from the wells will be

investigated by specialists. Samples for archaeobotanical and

pollen analyses were collected and will be sent to specialists

for further investigation. In the west a small burial place

was found with six cremation graves. Beside occupation features

many pieces of pottery were found that may give us a better

view on the dating of the site and habitats of its occupants.

The site was abandoned in the third quarter of the second

century AD, as were many sites in Flanders, due to a crisis

that followed the raids of the Chauci on the German coasts.

Materials and methods

In one of the three roman wells (WP1) animal bones were

preserved (fig. 2-7). Some of them came from layer D and are

associated with the disposal of the structure after it

collapsed. It is suggested to be the result of a ritual action

to leave the well at the end of its use (Groot 2008, p. 97-

157). Other bones are found in layers c and e, respectively

just above and under layer d, and from layers g and f (probably

associated with the construction of the well). A closer

examination of these faunal remains can probably shed light on

this site, this structure and the possible use in a ritual act.

Animal remains were compared to the reference collection of the

University of Tübingen, Germany, and were identified to species

when possible (Grayson 1984; Groot 2010, p. 97-107; Lyman 1994;

Reitz & Wing 2008). Body parts and portions of elements were

recorded. Pieces were sided when possible. Surface

modifications and cut marks were registered. Eruption of teeth

was used for aging some of the specimens. Unfused and fused

epiphyses were also used as age indicator. Sex determination

was not possible for this assemblage.

Cattle, sheep/goat, pig and horse are presumed to be

domesticated, although it is not excluded that some bones are

from wild animals (Groot 2008, p. 27-60; Vanhoutte et al.

2009). The presence of houses where humans and animals lived

under the same roof, already make that domesticated animals are

expected.

Fig. 2: profile figure of WP 1 (delivered by Archeologische

Dienst Waasland)

Fig. 3: WP1 top view

(delivered by

Archeologische Dienst

Waasland)

Fig. 4: WP1 top view with

position of animal bones

(delivered by Archeologische

Dienst Waasland)

Fig. 5: WP 1 focus on animal

remains (delivered by

Archeologische Dienst

Waasland)

Fig. 6: profile of WP 1

(delivered by Archeologische

Dienst Waasland)

Fig. 7: bottom of WP 1

(delivered by Archeologische

Dienst Waasland)

Results

Preservation as a limiting factor

The bones were conserved in a rather bad state: a lot of them

were encased, surfaces were heavily damaged and the remains

were very fragile. This definitely limited the

zooarchaeological research. Identification was often not easy

because characteristic parts were covered or had disappeared.

Cut marks and other surface marks are not visible when surfaces

are completely damaged. This makes that 58% (n= 101) of the

bones were unidentifiable, most of these were small pieces and

some of them were larger parts that were completely encased and

heavily damaged.

Animal diversity

As mentioned before, 58% of the bones were not identifiable.

But a total of 72 bones could be identified (fig. 8-9).

Seventeen % (NISP= 29) were determined as large ungulates (size

resembles cattle, horse, etc.), mostly preservation made it

hard to be more specific about them. Two % (NISP= 3) are

probably from medium ungulates (size resembles pig, sheep/goat,

etc.). Eight % of the bones were from domestic cattle.

Domestic horse was also present with six % (NISP= 10). Other

domesticates were only present in small percentage, both pig

and sheep/goat make up two % of the assemblage. The remaining

five % (NISP= 8) were identified as red deer.

Fig. 8:

animal

percentages in

WP1

med. Ungulate2%

large Ungulate

17% Sheep/Goat2%

dom. Horse6%

dom. Cattle8%

dom. Pig2%

inded58%

red deer5%

Animal diversity

Fig. 9:

NISP, MNE

and MNI

counts per

species for

WP1.

Species Elem ent NISP M NE M NIBos 14 2

hum erus 2 2 2m andible + dec. P2 1 1 1m andible 1 1 1lower P4 1 1 1lower M 3 3 1lower M 2 1 1 1lower M 3 1 1 1P/M 4 4 1

Equus caballus dom . 10 2pelvis 2 1 1scapula 2 2 2m etacarpal 2 2 2tibia 1 1 1m etatarsal 2 1 1upper P2 1 1 1

Cervus elaphus 8 1m andible + M 3 1 1 1m andible 4 2 1radius 1 1 1m etatarsal 2 1 1

Sus scrofa dom . 4 2ulna 2 1 1m andible + dec. P4 1 1 1upper M 3 1 1 1

Ovis/Capra 4 1P 1 1 1M 2 2 1upper M 1 1 1 1

m ed. Ungulate 3 1long bone shaft 2 1 1flat bone 1 1 1

large ungulate 29 1m etapodial 1 1 1long bone shaft 7 1 1flat bone 7 1 1axial elem ent 8 1 1thoracic vertebra 2 1 1lum bar vertebra 1 1 1vertebra 1 1 1pelvis 1 1 1fem ur 1 1 1

indet 101

Domestic cattle

Fourteen bones could be identified as domestic cattle. Ten of

these are teeth: one lower P4, three lower M, one lower M2, one

lower M3 and four M/P. These tooth had different wear stages

from slight wear until completely worn. Two pieces of right

mandibles could be found; one has a deciduous P2 included and

thus comes from an animal with an age of 0-24 months (Habermehl

1975, p. 70-85). The deciduous tooth is not heavily worn; this

suggests that this specimen can be placed on the younger side

of this age estimation. Surfaces were badly damaged and

surface modifications were not present. Two distal parts of

left humeri are definitely belonging to two different animals.

No surface features were found on these bones. No axial parts

or hind limb parts were found, but these could be fragmented or

badly preserved. Some elements in the category of large

ungulates could be from cattle (fig.10). Most of these bones

were found in layers g and f, probably associated with the

construction of the well. One molar was found in layer c.

Fig. 10: skeletal part distribution cattle vs. large ungulates

(MNE)

Domestic horse

Ten bones belonged to domestic horse. Most of these belonged to

the front or hind limb (fig. 11) and were found in layer d

associated with the disposal of the well. Preservation is bad

and surfaces are normally to heavily damaged. Two pieces of a

right pelvis were found; one of them had a deep cut mark of 23

mm diagonally placed around the foramen. Two right scapula had

a very bad preservation and were recently broken, these also

belong to two different animals. A shaft of a right metacarpal

and an almost complete other right metacarpal also belong to at

least two individuals. A shaft fragment of a tibia is the

first part of the hind limb, a diagonal cut mark of 6 mm is

present on the upper part of the shaft. A distal part of a left

metatarsal has a diagonal cut mark on the shaft from 14 mm.

Also a proximal part of a left metatarsal was found.

Fig. 11: skeletal part distribution horse vs. large ungulates

(MNE)

Only the upper P2 was not found in layer d, but in layer e

(below layer d). Axial parts were not found, but some of the

axial fragments of the large ungulates may originate from

domestic horse.

Domestic pig

Another domesticated animal found in the well was pig, although

it makes up only two % of the assemblage (NISP= 4). All pig

bones were found in layer e2. A mandible piece with a deciduous

P4 belongs to a very young animal, especially because the tooth

shows only slight wear. This animal is between two to four

weeks and 12-15 months old (Habermehl 1975, p. 144-147). An

upper M3 with light wear belongs to an adult animal. The other

bones are two pieces of the same ulna, they can be refitted. It

is possible that some of the few bones of medium ungulates

belong to pig (fig.12). No cut marks or other features were

found on the surface of these bones, although they were better

preserved.

Fig. 12:

skeletal part

distribution

pig vs.

medium

ungulates

(MNE)

Domestic sheep/goat

Only two % of the assemblage could be identified as sheep/goat

and only teeth of these species could be found. These were

found in layers e, e1 and e2. One lower M1had slight wear and

was the only complete tooth. The other specimens were fragments

of two molars and one premolar. The condition of these teeth

was not well enough to determine between sheep and goat. The

flat bone and long bone fragments of the medium ungulates may

be pieces of mandibles of sheep or goat (fig. 13).

Fig. 13: skeletal part distribution sheep/goat vs. medium

ungulates (MNE)

Red deer

Five % of this assemblage was identified as red deer. This

species is more abundant than pig and sheep/goat and is found

in same concentrations as horse. Bones were found in layers d,

f, e and b/c/d. It is the only animal species that is spread

over several layers. A total of eight bones were counted and

five of them were pieces of mandibles. Two mandible fragments

were refitted and belong to the same left mandible, they were

found in layer d. One piece of a right mandible holds a not

erupted M3; it was found in layer f together with a right

mandible condyle and coronoid. A posterior part of a right

mandible was found in layer e. Surfaces were heavily damaged

and no cut marks were found. A shaft of a radius was found in

layer b/c/d. A proximal part and a distal part of a fused

metatarsal were found in layer f. Elements of skull, front and

hind limb and a tooth were found. Some axial elements of the

large ungulates could complete this picture (fig. 14).

Fig. 14: skeletal part distribution red deer vs. large

ungulates (MNE)

Discussion

Most identifiable specimens in the Roman well from this rural

site are as expected from domestic animals. Although the

percentages of medium-sized animals like pig and sheep is

somewhat lower than expected. These animals were only found in

layers e, e1 and e2 linked to the latest use of the well and it

are mainly teeth, a mandible of a pig younger than 12-15 months

and a pig ulna.

The highest percentage of identifiable specimens came from

cattle, which is not surprising due to the size and importance

of this animal (Lepetz 1996; Lepetz & Matterne 2003). Most

pieces were teeth or mandible; only two humeri came from the

postcranial skeleton. Because the presence of juvenile bones,

it is unlikely that preservation biased this skeletal element

representation and that other postcranial elements were

deposited. This species was only found in layers f and g,

associated with the construction of the well.

The last domestic species was horse. A high percentage of horse

was found and almost all skeletal parts were present. Three of

the ten bones have cut marks; all the cut marks in this

assemblage can be found on horse. Bad preservation of the bone

surfaces of the other animal species would not give that much

bias and is not a good explanation for this. It is likely that

the cut marks on horse bones and the lack of cut marks on other

animals is a human influenced factor. All bones of horse were

found in layer d, associated with the disposal of the well.

Only a horse tooth was found in layer e.

It is not clear how important horse was to this site or sites

nearby as a domestic animal, it could have been used as working

animal, as food or it can be only brought for rituals. It is

also still possible that the horse bones were from wild animals

and that these were hunted. Size and morphology were not useful

to determine the wild or domesticated character of these

animals.

The presence of red deer suggests that not all of the land was

cultivated during the 1st and 2nd century AD around this site. A

possible woodland or grassland was probably nearby and at least

some times during the occupation phase red deer was used on

this roman site. The planned pollen and botanical analyses can

probably shed more light to the landscape surrounding this

site. Red deer was found in the well in layers associated with

construction and disposal of the structure. It is possible that

this animal played an important role in the rituals around

these actions. Mainly mandible pieces were found, but also

pieces of a radius and metatarsus.

More roman assemblages of rural sites should be examined. They

can give us a better view on the life of farming communities at

the edge of the Roman Empire. They can give insight about the

landscape, rate of landscapes turned into fields, rituals,

diet, importance of different domestic animals, proportion of

wild animals, etc. This source of information can be used to

complete our knowledge and reconstruct life during Roman times

in Flanders.

Conclusion

The Roman well at Europark-zuid, Sint-Niklaas, included several

domestic animals. Cattle and horse were both well-represented

and associated with layers of respectively construction and

disposal of the well. Some teeth of pig, goat/sheep and a horse

tooth were found in the layer of the last use of the well. Pig

and sheep/goat were underrepresented. A rather high percentage

of red deer was found in the layers associated with

construction and disposal of this structure. The presence of

this animal can give information of the landscape surrounding

this site. Most of the bones were badly preserved and surfaces

were heavily damaged. Only three horse bones showed cut marks.

The animal remains in Roman wells on other sites can help to

reconstruct the life of the rural population in Flanders under

Roman influence.

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