Delphine Frémondeau | University College London (original) (raw)
Papers by Delphine Frémondeau
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017
Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 2020
Recent genetic studies have shed light on the phylogeography of cave bears; however, their paleoe... more Recent genetic studies have shed light on the phylogeography of cave bears; however, their paleoecology and their diet are still debated, and data from southeastern Europe are still scarce. Magura Cave, in northwest Bulgaria, has delivered rich faunal assemblages from the Late Pleistocene. The chronology of the excavated area spans from ca. 35 kya to more than 50 kya; the oldest stratigraphic layers being associated with final Middle Palaeolithic tools. The fauna comprises herbivores and carnivores, and potentially different taxa of cave bears, the dental remains of which also showed different tooth morphotypes, suggesting the coexistence of different dietary adaptations. We investigated the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages of the cave bears from Magura Cave as well as the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of the faunal assemblage. Our data revealed that, regardless of the tooth morphotypes, only maternal lineages of Ursus ingressus were present in Magura Cave. Interestingly, one specimen with Ursus arctos mtDNA was also found, showing a clear carnivore diet. In contrast, the U. ingressus specimens had a predominantly herbivorous diet. The tooth morphotypes were associated with significantly different δ 13 C values, suggesting different dietary adaptations.
Keywords : Cave bear, aDNA, stable isotopes, δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, phylogeny, diet, morphology
Animal, 2017
In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constra... more In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constraints on husbandry in terms of work organization and availability of animal products. During the last 50 years, researchers have focused on understanding the mechanisms driving small ruminants' reproduction cycles and finding ways to control them. This characteristic is inherited from their wild ancestor. However, the history of its evolution over the 10 millennia that separates present day European sheep from their Near Eastern ancestors' remains to be written. This perspective echoes archaeologists' current attempts at reconstructing ancient pastoral societies' socio-economical organization. Information related to birth seasonality may be retrieved directly from archaeological sheep teeth. The methodology consists of reconstructing the seasonal cycle record in sheep molars, through sequential analysis of the stable oxygen isotope composition (δ 18 O) of enamel. Because the timing of tooth development is fixed within a species, inter-individual variability in this parameter reflects birth seasonality. A review of the data obtained from 10 European archaeological sites dated from the 6th to the 3rd millennia BC is provided. The results demonstrate a restricted breeding season for sheep: births occurred over a period of 3 to 4 months, from late winter to early summer at latitudes 43°N to 48°N, while a later onset was observed at a higher latitude (59°N). All conclusions concurred with currently held expectations based on present day sheep physiology, which, aside from the historical significance, contributes to the reinforcing of the methodological basis of the approach. Further study in this area will permit regional variability attributable to technical choices, within global schemes, to be fully reported.
In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constra... more In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constraints on husbandry in terms of work organization and availability of animal products. During the last 50 years, researchers have focused on understanding the mechanisms driving small ruminants' reproduction cycles and finding ways to control them. This characteristic is inherited from their wild ancestor. However, the history of its evolution over the 10 millennia that separates present day European sheep from their Near Eastern ancestors' remains to be written. This perspective echoes archaeologists' current attempts at reconstructing ancient pastoral societies' socio-economical organization. Information related to birth seasonality may be retrieved directly from archaeological sheep teeth. The methodology consists of reconstructing the seasonal cycle record in sheep molars, through sequential analysis of the stable oxygen isotope composition (δ 18 O) of enamel. Because the timing of tooth development is fixed within a species, inter-individual variability in this parameter reflects birth seasonality. A review of the data obtained from 10 European archaeological sites dated from the 6th to the 3rd millennia BC is provided. The results demonstrate a restricted breeding season for sheep: births occurred over a period of 3 to 4 months, from late winter to early summer at latitudes 43°N to 48°N, while a later onset was observed at a higher latitude (59°N). All conclusions concurred with currently held expectations based on present day sheep physiology, which, aside from the historical significance, contributes to the reinforcing of the methodological basis of the approach. Further study in this area will permit regional variability attributable to technical choices, within global schemes, to be fully reported.
European Journal of Archaeology, 2017
In this article we present a comparative study of pig and cattle morphologies, and stable isotope... more In this article we present a comparative study of pig and cattle morphologies, and stable isotope analysis relating to pig demographic management at Levroux Les Arènes (Indre, France), to evaluate changes in husbandry practices between the Iron Age and the Roman period in Gallic societies. Results indicate the establishment of new production and distribution structures, probably before the second century BC, along with the implementation of a specific size/weight selection for the specialized production of pork. Pig and cattle size evolves progressively from the end of the third century BC. These changes are likely to be the result of an internal evolution within Gallic societies, based on local herds, but possibly they are a response to a broader changing economic climate. Within the Western Roman Empire, each province, and Italy, follows its own evolutionary pattern, which also differs between pig and cattle, suggesting that each region adapted its husbandry strategies according to its agro-pastoral characteristics, capacities, or ambitions.
Revue archéologique de Picardie, 2016
By means of a sequential isotopic analysis of the dental remains of pigs from the La Tène village... more By means of a sequential isotopic analysis of the dental remains of pigs from the La Tène village of Levroux Les Arènes, and of a morphometric analysis of the bones of Gallic and Italian pigs, this paper aims to reconsider the role of Gallic societies in the development of pig farming between the Late Iron Age and the Roman period. This study shows that from very early times there exist in Gaul the will and the technical means for developing a specialized production of pig’s meat, as well as for the development and distribution of livestock of a larger size. In this field, the evolution observed tends to differentiate Gaul from Italy, and, moreover, shows that the different regions of the area concerned practise their own particular breeding methods.
In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. ... more In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. Whether this phenomenon was accompanied by increasing specialization of the economy may be investigated through the zooarchaeology of pastoral systems. The scale of herding is an important element of this framework. A case study was conducted on the tell sites of Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină situated in the Danube River basin. Both sites, located respectively on a terrace of the river and on the island of Balta Ialomiţei, delivered occupations from the Gumelniţa A2 dated to the second half of 5th millennium cal BC. Their occupants subsisted on an economy focused to a large extent on aquatic resources but also heavily dependent on cattle, pig and caprines husbandry and agriculture. The role of riverbanks resources in herding strategies and the extent to which the island of Balta Ialomit¸ei may have sustained domestic animal stocks was addressed through stable isotope analysis of animal skeleton remains. At both sites, results revealed local herding for cattle and caprines, reflected in an unexpectedly high contribution of C4 plants to their diet, most likely from ruderal C 4 plants that are more abundant around the settlements as well as in cultivated fields. Domestic pigs had a higher trophic status than their wild counterparts, highlighting a significant contribution of animal protein to their diet most likely provided by human activities, suggesting that they were maintained in the settlement. Overall the findings suggest domestic stocks were reared in close proximity to the settlements, rather than in an extensive system. This scheme complements the small-scale cultivation system highlighted from the archaeobotanical analysis. Gumelnit¸a tell sites have been previously described as being part of larger pastoral systems including locations with complementary functions, although functional complementarity in time was not made explicit in this model. In this regard, the results obtained at Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină are not in favour of large-scale seasonal mobility.
The pig predominates the zooarchaeological assemblage of the second Iron Age settlement of Levrou... more The pig predominates the zooarchaeological assemblage of the second Iron Age settlement of Levroux Les Arènes, in a context characterised by intensive craft and trade activities. The pattern of pig mortality profiles (targeting two-year-old animals), standardized butchery cut-marks and the under-occurrence of ham-bearing bones suggest that there was standardized pork production potentially designed for trade. This hypothesis was investigated through enamel δ18O analysis, allowing the seasonality of pig births to be determined and the reasons for a particular age class in the kill-off patterns to be explained. Results reveal that pig births were spread across more than half a year, suggesting that slaughter was not seasonally constrained, but was performed to target a specific age class and weight/size at death, thus supporting the hypothesis of standardized pork production in
Levroux Les Arènes. For the first time, the stable isotope approach – sequential δ18O analysis in pig incisors developed on a modern reference set – has been performed on an archaeological assemblage, aftermethodological adaptation. The results constitute the first zooarchaeological evidence of such a standardization of meat production from the second century onwards in Gaul.
Le travail de reconstitution des systèmes d’élevage préhistoriques a beaucoup été nourri d’analog... more Le travail de reconstitution des systèmes d’élevage préhistoriques a beaucoup été nourri d’analogies avec les économies pastorales traditionnelles sub-contemporaines. Celles-ci demeurent une source riche et très utile pour embrasser le champ des possibilités. Aux périodes proto- et historiques, même lorsque des sources textuelles et iconographiques sont disponibles, elles ne sauraient toujours refléter la variabilité des pratiques à l’échelle locale. Désormais, nous savons également exploiter des témoignages directs des pratiques d’élevage, constitués par les restes animaux euxmêmes. En particulier, des informations inédites peuvent être restituées à partir de l’analyse de la composition isotopique des éléments constitutifs des os et des dents. Ceux-ci sont incorporés dans le squelette par l’alimentation. Ils constituent des enregistrements précieux de la paléoécologie tout en étant liés à l’histoire individuelle. Dans cette synthèse, nous abordons tout particulièrement la saisonnalité des naissances du cheptel domestique, paramètre clef du système d’élevage. Nous expliquons les principes de la méthodologie appliquée pour reconstituer la distribution des naissances, les protocoles mis en oeuvre et les premiers résultats obtenus dans des contextes néolithiques et chalcolithiques européens.
Posters by Delphine Frémondeau
Southeast Thrace can be seen as a key region, constituting the contact zone between Thrace, the N... more Southeast Thrace can be seen as a key region, constituting the contact zone between Thrace, the Near East and the Aegean world. From the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period (1600 BC – AD 400), this region corresponding to present-day southeastern Bulgaria, witnessed major social and economic changes, including population growth, the integration of societies in the networks of larger political groupings, the intensification of production and the establishment of a market economy, the beginnings of urbanization. This resulted in a dramatic increase in human pressure on the environment with the first record of large scale anthropogenic activities in the palaeo-ecological archives. In order to reconstruct ancient Thracian subsistence strategies and human impact on the environment related with those processes, as well as to integrate this information with other archaeological evidence and historical sources, a collaborative project between the KU Leuven, the RBINS (Belgium) and the BAS (Bulgaria) was initiated in 2015. The methodological approach is based on the combined contribution from archaeozoology, archaeobotany, stable isotope biogeochemistry, geoarchaeology and GIS modelling. The workshop will offer the opportunity to present and discuss the preliminary results of this ongoing study.
Since its domestication, pig played an important role in human diet, providing meat and fat. The ... more Since its domestication, pig played an important role in human diet, providing meat and fat. The study of pig husbandry strategies informs on the modalities of pork production and supply, and the place of pork relative to other meats.
By combining a fine interpretation of mortality profiles with stable isotope analysis (18O, 13C and 15N of tooth and bone samples) and the study of linear enamel hypoplasia, we investigate more precisely some of the zootechnical parameters of pig husbandry.
The conjunction of these three methodologies gives information on:
- seasonality of pig birth and slaughtering, documenting the regularity of pork supply;
- pig’s diet at a seasonal scale;
- physiological stress potentially underwent by the pigs.
These issues will be addressed specifically on two archaeological assemblages: Popina Borduşani, a settlement on the Danube river in Romania dated to the late Chalcolithic (second half of the 5th mil. B.C.); and Levroux Les Arènes (Indre, France), a settlement of craftmen inhabited during the second Iron Age. On both sites, previous studies of the zooarchaeological assemblages revealed a predominant role of pigs in the subsistence strategy.
Fondé au début du IIe s. av. J.-C., le village des « Arènes » à Levroux est caractérisé par une ... more Fondé au début du IIe s. av. J.-C., le village des « Arènes » à Levroux est caractérisé par une forte activité artisanale, concernant principalement le travail du métal. La présence d’objets importés et la fabrication de monnaie placent ce village d’artisans au sein d’un réseau d’échanges à différentes échelles avec des fermes environnantes, le sud et l’est de la Gaule, l’Italie et peut-être l’est du Rhin. Dans ce contexte de commerce à courte et longue distances, une des hypothèses est que de la viande, et en particulier celle du porc, pourrait être une des marchandises échangées. En effet, l’étude des restes osseux a révélé la prépondérance du porc au sein des assemblages, mais a également permis de mettre en évidence une sous-représentation des pièces anatomiques portant les jambons (coxaux et fémurs), déficit pouvant s’expliquer par une exportation de viandes fraiches ou sous forme de conserve (Horard-Herbin, 1997). En parallèle, cette thèse avait soulevé l’hypothèse d’une double saisonnalité des naissances de cette espèce, dans un contexte d’améliorations zootechniques concernant notamment l’alimentation.
On sait que le nombre de mises-bas par an, la qualité de l’alimentation et la saisonnalité de l’abattage sont des facteurs qui influencent directement la qualité et la quantité de viande produite, ainsi que la régularité de la production. Toutefois, en dehors des écrits d’auteurs antiques tels que Varron ou Columelle, on connaît peu les pratiques d’élevage des porcs. Or ce sont ces pratiques qui auraient pu permettre une production de surplus en viande, nécessaires au développement d’un commerce de salaisons (même si son ampleur reste à déterminer), mentionné dans différents textes.
Le développement des analyses isotopiques de l’émail dentaire permet désormais d’aborder des questions telles que la saisonnalité des naissances et de l’abattage, ainsi que la gestion de l’alimentation au cours de l’année. L’émail dentaire enregistre au cours de la croissance de la dent les changements saisonniers des compositions isotopiques en carbone (δ13C) et en oxygène (δ18O) de l’alimentation et de l’eau de boisson. La composition isotopique en oxygène de l’eau ingérée est liée à celle de l’eau de pluie, qui varie en fonction des variations locales de température ; alors que la composition isotopique en carbone de l’émail est liée à celle des plantes consommées. L’étude de la composition isotopique en azote du collagène de l’os, liée à celle des protéines de l’alimentation, permet quant à elle de retrouver le niveau trophique auquel se situaient les porcs.
Contrairement aux analyses du collagène de l’os, les prélèvements séquentiels dans l’émail dentaire n’ont encore jamais été tentés pour le porc. L’étude menée sur des assemblages archéologiques de Levroux constitue donc un travail pionnier. La mise en place, dans le cadre d’une thèse, d’un protocole d’échantillonnage adapté, devrait donc apporter des éléments de réponse aux hypothèses proposées.
Un échantillonnage séquentiel de l’émail d’incisives et de canines de porcs, ainsi que des analyses isotopiques du collagène de l’os ont été réalisés pour trois des cinq phases d’occupation du site de Levroux « les Arènes » (deux phases gauloises et une phase gallo-romaine). Les résultats obtenus révèlent à la fois une diversité des pratiques au sein d’une même phase, ainsi que leur évolution au fil de l’occupation du site. Si la double saisonnalité des naissances était pratiquée dès le début du IIe siècle av. J.-C., il semblerait que le contrôle de l’alimentation des porcs se soit accentué jusqu’à l’époque romaine, impliquant peut-être une gestion différente des ressources agricoles. On peut donc se demander si cette évolution des pratiques zootechniques est un fait local et isolé, ou témoigne d’une diffusion des techniques d’élevage ?
PhD Thesis Abstract by Delphine Frémondeau
The objective of this research is to propose a protocol of stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ18O, δ... more The objective of this research is to propose a protocol of stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ18O, δ15N) allowing the investigation of the seasonal rhythms of archaeological pig husbandry, in terms of reproduction and diet.
A modern reference data set, implying the sequential sampling of tooth enamel from wild and free-range domestic pigs from Corsica and cross-bred pigs from Romania was constituted, allowing the mapping of the isotopic signal record in the mandibular tooth row and the definition of a first sampling protocol. This protocol was then applied and improved through the study of two archaeological assemblages: the Celtic village of Levroux Les Arènes (Région Centre, France) and the Chalcolithic tell of Borduşani Popina (Ialomiţa department, Romania). Thus, birth seasonality (and season) can be assessed through the sequential sampling (δ18O) of the two first incisors (otherwise the third molar). Male evergrowing canine is the best tooth to study diet seasonality through the serial analysis of enamel stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios and dentine stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios.
Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) was also recorded on the populations of the reference data set. A new way of studying the distribution of LEH on the molar crowns is proposed, which eases the interpretation of LEH distribution in terms of seasonality. This method was applied on three archaeological assemblages: Levroux Les Arènes, Borduşani Popina and the Chalcolithic site of Hârşova-tell (Constanţa department, Romania). The construction of the mortality profiles of the swine from these two sites gave the opportunity to compare two different ageing methods that enable the definition of fine age classes (Higham, 1967/Rowley-Conwy, 1993 et Horard-Herbin, 1997).
Archaeology & Archaeobotany by Delphine Frémondeau
Quaternary International, 2017
In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. ... more In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. Whether this phenomenon was accompanied by increasing specialization of the economy may be investigated through the zooarchaeology of pastoral systems. The scale of herding is an important element of this framework. A case study was conducted on the tell sites of Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină situated in the Danube River basin. Both sites, located respectively on a terrace of the river and on the island of Balta Ialomiţei, delivered occupations from the Gumelniţa A2 dated to the second half of 5th millennium cal BC. Their occupants subsisted on an economy focused to a large extent on aquatic resources but also heavily dependent on cattle, pig and caprines husbandry and agriculture. The role of riverbanks resources in herding strategies and the extent to which the island of Balta Ialomiţei may have sustained domestic animal stocks was addressed through stable isotope analysis of animal skeleton remains. At both sites, results revealed local herding for cattle and caprines, reflected in an unexpectedly high contribution of C4 plants to their diet, most likely from ruderal C4 plants that are more abundant around the settlements as well as in cultivated fields. Domestic pigs had a higher trophic status than their wild counterparts, highlighting a significant contribution of animal protein to their diet most likely provided by human activities, suggesting that they were maintained in the settlement. Overall the findings suggest domestic stocks were reared in close proximity to the settlements, rather than in an extensive system. This scheme complements the small-scale cultivation system highlighted from the archaeobotanical analysis. Gumelniţa tell sites have been previously described as being part of larger pastoral systems including locations with complementary functions, although functional complementarity in time was not made explicit in this model. In this regard, the results obtained at Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină are not in favour of large-scale seasonal mobility.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017
Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 2020
Recent genetic studies have shed light on the phylogeography of cave bears; however, their paleoe... more Recent genetic studies have shed light on the phylogeography of cave bears; however, their paleoecology and their diet are still debated, and data from southeastern Europe are still scarce. Magura Cave, in northwest Bulgaria, has delivered rich faunal assemblages from the Late Pleistocene. The chronology of the excavated area spans from ca. 35 kya to more than 50 kya; the oldest stratigraphic layers being associated with final Middle Palaeolithic tools. The fauna comprises herbivores and carnivores, and potentially different taxa of cave bears, the dental remains of which also showed different tooth morphotypes, suggesting the coexistence of different dietary adaptations. We investigated the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages of the cave bears from Magura Cave as well as the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of the faunal assemblage. Our data revealed that, regardless of the tooth morphotypes, only maternal lineages of Ursus ingressus were present in Magura Cave. Interestingly, one specimen with Ursus arctos mtDNA was also found, showing a clear carnivore diet. In contrast, the U. ingressus specimens had a predominantly herbivorous diet. The tooth morphotypes were associated with significantly different δ 13 C values, suggesting different dietary adaptations.
Keywords : Cave bear, aDNA, stable isotopes, δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, phylogeny, diet, morphology
Animal, 2017
In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constra... more In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constraints on husbandry in terms of work organization and availability of animal products. During the last 50 years, researchers have focused on understanding the mechanisms driving small ruminants' reproduction cycles and finding ways to control them. This characteristic is inherited from their wild ancestor. However, the history of its evolution over the 10 millennia that separates present day European sheep from their Near Eastern ancestors' remains to be written. This perspective echoes archaeologists' current attempts at reconstructing ancient pastoral societies' socio-economical organization. Information related to birth seasonality may be retrieved directly from archaeological sheep teeth. The methodology consists of reconstructing the seasonal cycle record in sheep molars, through sequential analysis of the stable oxygen isotope composition (δ 18 O) of enamel. Because the timing of tooth development is fixed within a species, inter-individual variability in this parameter reflects birth seasonality. A review of the data obtained from 10 European archaeological sites dated from the 6th to the 3rd millennia BC is provided. The results demonstrate a restricted breeding season for sheep: births occurred over a period of 3 to 4 months, from late winter to early summer at latitudes 43°N to 48°N, while a later onset was observed at a higher latitude (59°N). All conclusions concurred with currently held expectations based on present day sheep physiology, which, aside from the historical significance, contributes to the reinforcing of the methodological basis of the approach. Further study in this area will permit regional variability attributable to technical choices, within global schemes, to be fully reported.
In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constra... more In temperate latitudes sheep have a seasonal reproductive behaviour, which imposes strong constraints on husbandry in terms of work organization and availability of animal products. During the last 50 years, researchers have focused on understanding the mechanisms driving small ruminants' reproduction cycles and finding ways to control them. This characteristic is inherited from their wild ancestor. However, the history of its evolution over the 10 millennia that separates present day European sheep from their Near Eastern ancestors' remains to be written. This perspective echoes archaeologists' current attempts at reconstructing ancient pastoral societies' socio-economical organization. Information related to birth seasonality may be retrieved directly from archaeological sheep teeth. The methodology consists of reconstructing the seasonal cycle record in sheep molars, through sequential analysis of the stable oxygen isotope composition (δ 18 O) of enamel. Because the timing of tooth development is fixed within a species, inter-individual variability in this parameter reflects birth seasonality. A review of the data obtained from 10 European archaeological sites dated from the 6th to the 3rd millennia BC is provided. The results demonstrate a restricted breeding season for sheep: births occurred over a period of 3 to 4 months, from late winter to early summer at latitudes 43°N to 48°N, while a later onset was observed at a higher latitude (59°N). All conclusions concurred with currently held expectations based on present day sheep physiology, which, aside from the historical significance, contributes to the reinforcing of the methodological basis of the approach. Further study in this area will permit regional variability attributable to technical choices, within global schemes, to be fully reported.
European Journal of Archaeology, 2017
In this article we present a comparative study of pig and cattle morphologies, and stable isotope... more In this article we present a comparative study of pig and cattle morphologies, and stable isotope analysis relating to pig demographic management at Levroux Les Arènes (Indre, France), to evaluate changes in husbandry practices between the Iron Age and the Roman period in Gallic societies. Results indicate the establishment of new production and distribution structures, probably before the second century BC, along with the implementation of a specific size/weight selection for the specialized production of pork. Pig and cattle size evolves progressively from the end of the third century BC. These changes are likely to be the result of an internal evolution within Gallic societies, based on local herds, but possibly they are a response to a broader changing economic climate. Within the Western Roman Empire, each province, and Italy, follows its own evolutionary pattern, which also differs between pig and cattle, suggesting that each region adapted its husbandry strategies according to its agro-pastoral characteristics, capacities, or ambitions.
Revue archéologique de Picardie, 2016
By means of a sequential isotopic analysis of the dental remains of pigs from the La Tène village... more By means of a sequential isotopic analysis of the dental remains of pigs from the La Tène village of Levroux Les Arènes, and of a morphometric analysis of the bones of Gallic and Italian pigs, this paper aims to reconsider the role of Gallic societies in the development of pig farming between the Late Iron Age and the Roman period. This study shows that from very early times there exist in Gaul the will and the technical means for developing a specialized production of pig’s meat, as well as for the development and distribution of livestock of a larger size. In this field, the evolution observed tends to differentiate Gaul from Italy, and, moreover, shows that the different regions of the area concerned practise their own particular breeding methods.
In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. ... more In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. Whether this phenomenon was accompanied by increasing specialization of the economy may be investigated through the zooarchaeology of pastoral systems. The scale of herding is an important element of this framework. A case study was conducted on the tell sites of Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină situated in the Danube River basin. Both sites, located respectively on a terrace of the river and on the island of Balta Ialomiţei, delivered occupations from the Gumelniţa A2 dated to the second half of 5th millennium cal BC. Their occupants subsisted on an economy focused to a large extent on aquatic resources but also heavily dependent on cattle, pig and caprines husbandry and agriculture. The role of riverbanks resources in herding strategies and the extent to which the island of Balta Ialomit¸ei may have sustained domestic animal stocks was addressed through stable isotope analysis of animal skeleton remains. At both sites, results revealed local herding for cattle and caprines, reflected in an unexpectedly high contribution of C4 plants to their diet, most likely from ruderal C 4 plants that are more abundant around the settlements as well as in cultivated fields. Domestic pigs had a higher trophic status than their wild counterparts, highlighting a significant contribution of animal protein to their diet most likely provided by human activities, suggesting that they were maintained in the settlement. Overall the findings suggest domestic stocks were reared in close proximity to the settlements, rather than in an extensive system. This scheme complements the small-scale cultivation system highlighted from the archaeobotanical analysis. Gumelnit¸a tell sites have been previously described as being part of larger pastoral systems including locations with complementary functions, although functional complementarity in time was not made explicit in this model. In this regard, the results obtained at Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină are not in favour of large-scale seasonal mobility.
The pig predominates the zooarchaeological assemblage of the second Iron Age settlement of Levrou... more The pig predominates the zooarchaeological assemblage of the second Iron Age settlement of Levroux Les Arènes, in a context characterised by intensive craft and trade activities. The pattern of pig mortality profiles (targeting two-year-old animals), standardized butchery cut-marks and the under-occurrence of ham-bearing bones suggest that there was standardized pork production potentially designed for trade. This hypothesis was investigated through enamel δ18O analysis, allowing the seasonality of pig births to be determined and the reasons for a particular age class in the kill-off patterns to be explained. Results reveal that pig births were spread across more than half a year, suggesting that slaughter was not seasonally constrained, but was performed to target a specific age class and weight/size at death, thus supporting the hypothesis of standardized pork production in
Levroux Les Arènes. For the first time, the stable isotope approach – sequential δ18O analysis in pig incisors developed on a modern reference set – has been performed on an archaeological assemblage, aftermethodological adaptation. The results constitute the first zooarchaeological evidence of such a standardization of meat production from the second century onwards in Gaul.
Le travail de reconstitution des systèmes d’élevage préhistoriques a beaucoup été nourri d’analog... more Le travail de reconstitution des systèmes d’élevage préhistoriques a beaucoup été nourri d’analogies avec les économies pastorales traditionnelles sub-contemporaines. Celles-ci demeurent une source riche et très utile pour embrasser le champ des possibilités. Aux périodes proto- et historiques, même lorsque des sources textuelles et iconographiques sont disponibles, elles ne sauraient toujours refléter la variabilité des pratiques à l’échelle locale. Désormais, nous savons également exploiter des témoignages directs des pratiques d’élevage, constitués par les restes animaux euxmêmes. En particulier, des informations inédites peuvent être restituées à partir de l’analyse de la composition isotopique des éléments constitutifs des os et des dents. Ceux-ci sont incorporés dans le squelette par l’alimentation. Ils constituent des enregistrements précieux de la paléoécologie tout en étant liés à l’histoire individuelle. Dans cette synthèse, nous abordons tout particulièrement la saisonnalité des naissances du cheptel domestique, paramètre clef du système d’élevage. Nous expliquons les principes de la méthodologie appliquée pour reconstituer la distribution des naissances, les protocoles mis en oeuvre et les premiers résultats obtenus dans des contextes néolithiques et chalcolithiques européens.
Southeast Thrace can be seen as a key region, constituting the contact zone between Thrace, the N... more Southeast Thrace can be seen as a key region, constituting the contact zone between Thrace, the Near East and the Aegean world. From the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period (1600 BC – AD 400), this region corresponding to present-day southeastern Bulgaria, witnessed major social and economic changes, including population growth, the integration of societies in the networks of larger political groupings, the intensification of production and the establishment of a market economy, the beginnings of urbanization. This resulted in a dramatic increase in human pressure on the environment with the first record of large scale anthropogenic activities in the palaeo-ecological archives. In order to reconstruct ancient Thracian subsistence strategies and human impact on the environment related with those processes, as well as to integrate this information with other archaeological evidence and historical sources, a collaborative project between the KU Leuven, the RBINS (Belgium) and the BAS (Bulgaria) was initiated in 2015. The methodological approach is based on the combined contribution from archaeozoology, archaeobotany, stable isotope biogeochemistry, geoarchaeology and GIS modelling. The workshop will offer the opportunity to present and discuss the preliminary results of this ongoing study.
Since its domestication, pig played an important role in human diet, providing meat and fat. The ... more Since its domestication, pig played an important role in human diet, providing meat and fat. The study of pig husbandry strategies informs on the modalities of pork production and supply, and the place of pork relative to other meats.
By combining a fine interpretation of mortality profiles with stable isotope analysis (18O, 13C and 15N of tooth and bone samples) and the study of linear enamel hypoplasia, we investigate more precisely some of the zootechnical parameters of pig husbandry.
The conjunction of these three methodologies gives information on:
- seasonality of pig birth and slaughtering, documenting the regularity of pork supply;
- pig’s diet at a seasonal scale;
- physiological stress potentially underwent by the pigs.
These issues will be addressed specifically on two archaeological assemblages: Popina Borduşani, a settlement on the Danube river in Romania dated to the late Chalcolithic (second half of the 5th mil. B.C.); and Levroux Les Arènes (Indre, France), a settlement of craftmen inhabited during the second Iron Age. On both sites, previous studies of the zooarchaeological assemblages revealed a predominant role of pigs in the subsistence strategy.
Fondé au début du IIe s. av. J.-C., le village des « Arènes » à Levroux est caractérisé par une ... more Fondé au début du IIe s. av. J.-C., le village des « Arènes » à Levroux est caractérisé par une forte activité artisanale, concernant principalement le travail du métal. La présence d’objets importés et la fabrication de monnaie placent ce village d’artisans au sein d’un réseau d’échanges à différentes échelles avec des fermes environnantes, le sud et l’est de la Gaule, l’Italie et peut-être l’est du Rhin. Dans ce contexte de commerce à courte et longue distances, une des hypothèses est que de la viande, et en particulier celle du porc, pourrait être une des marchandises échangées. En effet, l’étude des restes osseux a révélé la prépondérance du porc au sein des assemblages, mais a également permis de mettre en évidence une sous-représentation des pièces anatomiques portant les jambons (coxaux et fémurs), déficit pouvant s’expliquer par une exportation de viandes fraiches ou sous forme de conserve (Horard-Herbin, 1997). En parallèle, cette thèse avait soulevé l’hypothèse d’une double saisonnalité des naissances de cette espèce, dans un contexte d’améliorations zootechniques concernant notamment l’alimentation.
On sait que le nombre de mises-bas par an, la qualité de l’alimentation et la saisonnalité de l’abattage sont des facteurs qui influencent directement la qualité et la quantité de viande produite, ainsi que la régularité de la production. Toutefois, en dehors des écrits d’auteurs antiques tels que Varron ou Columelle, on connaît peu les pratiques d’élevage des porcs. Or ce sont ces pratiques qui auraient pu permettre une production de surplus en viande, nécessaires au développement d’un commerce de salaisons (même si son ampleur reste à déterminer), mentionné dans différents textes.
Le développement des analyses isotopiques de l’émail dentaire permet désormais d’aborder des questions telles que la saisonnalité des naissances et de l’abattage, ainsi que la gestion de l’alimentation au cours de l’année. L’émail dentaire enregistre au cours de la croissance de la dent les changements saisonniers des compositions isotopiques en carbone (δ13C) et en oxygène (δ18O) de l’alimentation et de l’eau de boisson. La composition isotopique en oxygène de l’eau ingérée est liée à celle de l’eau de pluie, qui varie en fonction des variations locales de température ; alors que la composition isotopique en carbone de l’émail est liée à celle des plantes consommées. L’étude de la composition isotopique en azote du collagène de l’os, liée à celle des protéines de l’alimentation, permet quant à elle de retrouver le niveau trophique auquel se situaient les porcs.
Contrairement aux analyses du collagène de l’os, les prélèvements séquentiels dans l’émail dentaire n’ont encore jamais été tentés pour le porc. L’étude menée sur des assemblages archéologiques de Levroux constitue donc un travail pionnier. La mise en place, dans le cadre d’une thèse, d’un protocole d’échantillonnage adapté, devrait donc apporter des éléments de réponse aux hypothèses proposées.
Un échantillonnage séquentiel de l’émail d’incisives et de canines de porcs, ainsi que des analyses isotopiques du collagène de l’os ont été réalisés pour trois des cinq phases d’occupation du site de Levroux « les Arènes » (deux phases gauloises et une phase gallo-romaine). Les résultats obtenus révèlent à la fois une diversité des pratiques au sein d’une même phase, ainsi que leur évolution au fil de l’occupation du site. Si la double saisonnalité des naissances était pratiquée dès le début du IIe siècle av. J.-C., il semblerait que le contrôle de l’alimentation des porcs se soit accentué jusqu’à l’époque romaine, impliquant peut-être une gestion différente des ressources agricoles. On peut donc se demander si cette évolution des pratiques zootechniques est un fait local et isolé, ou témoigne d’une diffusion des techniques d’élevage ?
The objective of this research is to propose a protocol of stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ18O, δ... more The objective of this research is to propose a protocol of stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ18O, δ15N) allowing the investigation of the seasonal rhythms of archaeological pig husbandry, in terms of reproduction and diet.
A modern reference data set, implying the sequential sampling of tooth enamel from wild and free-range domestic pigs from Corsica and cross-bred pigs from Romania was constituted, allowing the mapping of the isotopic signal record in the mandibular tooth row and the definition of a first sampling protocol. This protocol was then applied and improved through the study of two archaeological assemblages: the Celtic village of Levroux Les Arènes (Région Centre, France) and the Chalcolithic tell of Borduşani Popina (Ialomiţa department, Romania). Thus, birth seasonality (and season) can be assessed through the sequential sampling (δ18O) of the two first incisors (otherwise the third molar). Male evergrowing canine is the best tooth to study diet seasonality through the serial analysis of enamel stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios and dentine stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios.
Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) was also recorded on the populations of the reference data set. A new way of studying the distribution of LEH on the molar crowns is proposed, which eases the interpretation of LEH distribution in terms of seasonality. This method was applied on three archaeological assemblages: Levroux Les Arènes, Borduşani Popina and the Chalcolithic site of Hârşova-tell (Constanţa department, Romania). The construction of the mortality profiles of the swine from these two sites gave the opportunity to compare two different ageing methods that enable the definition of fine age classes (Higham, 1967/Rowley-Conwy, 1993 et Horard-Herbin, 1997).
Quaternary International, 2017
In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. ... more In southeastern Romania, the Gumelniţa culture is characterized by the appearance of tell sites. Whether this phenomenon was accompanied by increasing specialization of the economy may be investigated through the zooarchaeology of pastoral systems. The scale of herding is an important element of this framework. A case study was conducted on the tell sites of Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină situated in the Danube River basin. Both sites, located respectively on a terrace of the river and on the island of Balta Ialomiţei, delivered occupations from the Gumelniţa A2 dated to the second half of 5th millennium cal BC. Their occupants subsisted on an economy focused to a large extent on aquatic resources but also heavily dependent on cattle, pig and caprines husbandry and agriculture. The role of riverbanks resources in herding strategies and the extent to which the island of Balta Ialomiţei may have sustained domestic animal stocks was addressed through stable isotope analysis of animal skeleton remains. At both sites, results revealed local herding for cattle and caprines, reflected in an unexpectedly high contribution of C4 plants to their diet, most likely from ruderal C4 plants that are more abundant around the settlements as well as in cultivated fields. Domestic pigs had a higher trophic status than their wild counterparts, highlighting a significant contribution of animal protein to their diet most likely provided by human activities, suggesting that they were maintained in the settlement. Overall the findings suggest domestic stocks were reared in close proximity to the settlements, rather than in an extensive system. This scheme complements the small-scale cultivation system highlighted from the archaeobotanical analysis. Gumelniţa tell sites have been previously described as being part of larger pastoral systems including locations with complementary functions, although functional complementarity in time was not made explicit in this model. In this regard, the results obtained at Hârşova and Borduşani-Popină are not in favour of large-scale seasonal mobility.