J. Zeiler, 2013: Birds for the elite? Fowling in the northern Netherlands in the Roman Period and the Early Middle Ages (original) (raw)
Related papers
Skeletal remains of birds of prey from (post-) medieval sites of high social status can sometimes be connected with falconry. This applies to bones of species such as sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and possibly also hobby (Falco subbuteo). Remains of kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) are more likely to come from local (breeding) birds, as it seems to be hardly used in falconry. Bones of common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and kite (Milvus sp.) are harder to explain, as these species Milvus sp.) are harder to explain, as these species Milvus were never used in falconry nor lived in these places. The same applies to remains of shorteared owl (Asio fl ammeus), while the presence of other owl species can easily be explained in terms of birds breeding or foraging locally. In this paper the possibility is discussed that there might yet be a link with falconry, with buzzards, kites and short-eared owls being part of the falconers' game bag. Indications for this are found in oral and written sources, but also in paintings and drawings.
The avifauna is presented of nine sites within the town of Brussels that are dated between the 13th and 20th centuries. The bone material consists of consumed birds and of individuals that can be interpreted as urban scavengers. For the various sites, the proportion of birds versus mammals is considered as well as the frequency of wild versus domestic birds. The proportion of the domestic species is also documented through time. The comparison of various types of sites shows status related trends: noble sites dated to the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods seem to be characterised by high percentages of wild birds and wild mammals, combined with low proportions of, probably domestic, goose. Finally, some remarks are made on the provenance of the birds and a few special fi nds are described.
The avifauna is presented of nine sites within the town of Brussels that are dated between the 13th and 20th centuries. The bone material consists of consumed birds and of individuals that can be interpreted as urban scavengers. For the various sites, the proportion of birds versus mammals is considered as well as the frequency of wild versus domestic birds. The proportion of the domestic species is also documented through time. The comparison of various types of sites shows status related trends: noble sites dated to the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods seem to be characterised by high percentages of wild birds and wild mammals, combined with low proportions of, probably domestic, goose. Finally, some remarks are made on the provenance of the birds and a few special fi nds are described.
K.-H. Gersmann & O. Grimm (eds.), Raptor and human - falconry and bird symbolism throughout the millennia on a global scale. Workshop, ZBSA, 2014 (Kiel/Hamburg 2018), 2018
The present article takes a closer look at the find contexts of bones of birds of prey (mainly those of goshawk) in settlement contexts in central and northern Europe. Based upon different criteria, such bones regularly found at “special sites” such as seats of power, cities and trading places are often taken as indications for falconry and falconers. Regarding seats of power, it is worthwhile to analyse where in particular the bones were found. In the case of the city of Schleswig (early post 1000s) in northern Germany and the royal hill fort of Mikulčice in Moravia (late pre 1000s), it can be demonstrated that the bones do not originate from the actual seats of power, but from areas at some distance. There is reason to suggest that groups of a certain social standing – high clerics (Schleswig), military followers (Mikulčice) – engaged in falconry whereas, in the present cases, nothing definite can be said about kings, possibly queens, and birds. Apart from archaeology, written sources from the central European Frankish kingdom (late pre 1000s) bear witness to professional falconers employed by those in power. As can be assumed, these falconers did not live at the actual seats of power themselves, which would allow to consider bones which were found at some distance from these seats as indicators for professional falconers. When it comes to bones of this kind from trading sites, such as those of the late 1st millennium AD (Slavonic Groß Strömkendorf, eastern Germany, and mid-east Swedish Viking Birka), they have to be considered foremost on the basis of the mercantile character of the sites: were birds at such sites meant for trade? One could doubt that tradesmen and craftsmen were yet other groups that engaged in falconry, even more so since late 1st millennium trading sites had nearby centres of power from which they were overseen and which would have been the obvious places for high ranking persons taking an interest in falconry.
ALBARELLA U., THOMAS R. 2002. They dined on crane: bird consumption, wild fowling and status in medieval England. In: Proceedings of the 4th Meeting of the ICAZ Bird Working Group Kraków, Poland, 11-15 September, 2001. Acta zoologica cracoviensia, 45(special issue): 23-38.
The luxurious lives of lords and ladies. Animal remains and their spatial distribution at Huis ter Kleef (c. 1250-1573 AD). NAR 082, Amersfoort., 2024
Today the castle of Huis ter Kleef, in the Dutch town of Haarlem, is a ruin. But once it was the scene of aristocratic pleasures. Game animals were hunted, falconry was indulged in, and some highly specific notions existed regarding the utilization of animals. At least 134 different species fed the lords of the castle and served their expensive pastimes. The waste, dumped at various locations throughout the complex, provides a peek into these aristocratic doings. Analysis of the site’s formation processes is key to understanding how waste was being processed and what happened at the site after the castle had been abandoned. All of this and more has emerged from this study, for which nearly 65,000 animal remains were analysed.
The criteria of how to decide that falconry was practiced at an archaeological site are discussed. They are: 1) falconry devices, 2) the bones of hawks, 3) a preponderance of female goshawks and sparrowhawks and 4) bones of the birds and mammals that were captured with trained birds of prey. Bones of hawks in graves are certain evidence that falconry was practiced. A combination of several of the four criteria is recommended to decide that falconry was practiced at a settlement. Falconry was practiced in Central and Western Europe and in eastern Sweden since the 6th century. Goshawks and sparrowhawks were the most important hawks until at least the 16th century.Falconry with peregrines became more important in the 15th–16th centuries, especially among the high nobility. This is at least clear for the Netherlands. Historical records make it clear that many of these peregrines, but also goshawks, were imported from Norway. Bones demonstrate that falconry with goshawks was practiced at the 15th–16th century castle of Sint Maartensdijk on the island of Tholen (the Netherlands). Historical records state that the owner of the castle, Frank II van Borselen, imported falcons (peregrines?) and goshawks from Norway in the second half of the 15th century. A worked reindeer antler and bones of fish species only living in northern waters confirm the connection of the castle with Norway.The peregrines found at the 15th–17th century falcon house of the Counts of Hainaut, Holland, and Zeeland, and later of the stadtholders (Dutch: stadhouders) of Holland and other Dutch provinces in The Hague (the Netherlands), were most probably also imported from Norway. 17th century Norwegian records state that falconers employed by the Princes of Orange, then the stadtholders, captured falcons in Norway and brought them to Holland.
Poultry and Fowling at the Roman Castellum Velsen 1
2020
A total of 3191 bones of domestic and wild birds from the Roman castellum Velsen 1l, the Netherlands, c. 15-30 AD, have been identified. Domestic fowl was the most important bird species consumed. Peacock has been demonstrated by one bone. Over 30 wild bird species have been identified. Six possible types of fowling have been distinguished.