Abstract
The High Medieval town of Most (13th–14th century) was located in the region of Podkrušnohoří (foothill region of the Ore Mountains) of north-west Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The site was utterly destroyed as a result of surface and underground coal mining activities.
In our study we focused on the preserved animal bone remains excavated on an urban plot adjacent to house No. 226 of the 2nd half of the 13th century and 14th century. We used a multi-proxy approach that linked the results of taxonomic analysis, age estimation, stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis of the tooth dentine collagen to reconstruct animal management practices, including dietary and feeding regimes, in two mentioned periods.
The archaeozoological and isotope data may indicate that the farm-household model was used by the inhabitants of a new established town (13 th century). The slaughter age analysis showed the breeding practices of cattle, caprines and domestic pigs changed over time.
In the 14th century, the cattle and sheep were more exploited for milk and domestic pigs were fattened faster during the first two years of life than in the previous period. In the Middle Ages, the town of Most expanded and the network of the supporting villages grew.
This development could lead to a reduction of forest and pastureland. As a result, the cattle and sheep ended up grazing on places of lesser quality or on fertilized fields after harvest or fallow lands.
The domestic pigs with higher δ15N values can be considered to have been fattened by different methods.