AV 63, 2012: Borut TOŠKAN and Janez DIRJEC

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK 63, 2012

Borut TOŠKAN and Janez DIRJEC

Mammalian macrofauna from the area of the Roman settlement at Grublje near Vipava

Abstract

During the investigation of Roman settlement traces at Grublje near Vipava (western Slovenia), 403 remains of large mammals were discovered, and 108 of these were taxonomically identified. A total of at least five species were represented among them (i.e. cattle representing over two thirds of the finds, and also sheep and/or goat, pig, horse, and red deer), and possibly also aurochs and European bison. The biometrical analysis of cattle bones showed the presence of large animals attributable to the advanced “Roman” breed also in the 4th century, i.e. at the beginning of Late Antiquity. The withers height of a horse, to which the only undamaged long bone (i.e. metatarsus) in the entire material belonged, would also agree with the data for Roman specimens from the wider region. Cattle breeding, generally the main meat source for the local inhabitants, was seemingly focused primarily on oxen (cows?) as working animals. The at most 6.6% share of hunted species testifies to a modest significance (in quantity) of game in the local diet.

Keywords: Roman period, Vipava, fauna, Roman period stock-breeding, dietary habits

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