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.
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.
References
Grayson D. K., 1984. Quantitative zooarchaeology : Topics in the analysis of
archaeological faunas, Orlando (Studies in archaeological science).
Groot M., 2010. Handboek Zoöarcheologie, Amsterdam (Materiaal &
Methoden 1).
Groot M., 2008. Animals in ritual and economy in a Roman frontier community.
Excavations in Tiel-Passewaaij, Amsterdam (Amsterdam Archaeological
Studies 12).
Habermehl K.-H., 1975. Die Alterbestimmung bei haus- und Labortieren.
Berlin.
Lauwers B., Van Vaerenbergh J., 2010. Archeologisch onderzoek
Sint-Niklaas Europark-Zuid. Poster forumdag.
Lepetz S., 1996. Effets de la romanisation sur l'élevage dans
les établissements ruraux du Nord de la Gaule. L'exemple de
l'augmentation de la stature des animaux domestiques. Revue
Archéologique de Picardie, numéro spécial, 11, p. 317-324.
Lepetz S. & Matterne V., 2003. Elevage et agriculture dans le
Nord de la Gaule durant l’époque gallo-romaine : une
confrontation des données archéozoologiques et carpologiques.
In: Lepetz S. & Matterne V., Elevage et agriculture dans le
Nord de la Gaule d’après les données archéozoologiques et
carpologiques. Revue Archéologique de Picardie, n°1/2, p. 23-35.
Lyman R. L., 1994. Vertebrate taphonomy, Cambridge (Cambridge
Manuals in Archaeology).
Reitz E. J., Wing E. S., 2008. Zooarchaeology, Cambridge
(Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology).
Vanhoutte S. et. al., 2009. De dubbele waterput uit het laat-
Romeinse castellum van Oudenburg (prov. West-Vlaanderen):
tafonomie, chronologie en interpretatie. Relicta, 5, p. 9-142.
Top Related