Abstrakt
The archaeological excavation at Devín-Záhrady has been undertaken by Archaeological Agency (Nitra) during the winter months at the turn of 2014 and 2015. Altogether 98 features of an area of nearly two hectares have been explored and preliminary dated to the Late Hallstatt and Late La Tène period.
This report aims to present basic taxonomic data from the analysis of 111 archaeozoological samples revealed from 34 features. Collected material, represented by animal bones and teeth, fish scales and bird eggshells, was retrieved by hand (NISP = 335; WISP = 13376.7 g) and by sorting of hard residues from archaeobotanical flotation (NISP = 817; WISP = 336.4 g).
The bigger portion of analysed material originates from the dwellings and cremation graves of the earlier Hallstatt phase of the sites's occupation (table 1). The settlement remains (NISP = 855) consisted of relatively large spectrum of species (table 2).
It includes cattle (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus), pig (Sus domesticus), dog (Canis familiaris), horse (Equus caballus), aurochs (Bos primigenius), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), beaver (Castor fiber) and otter (Lutra lutra). Among fish remains, catfish (Silurus glanis) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) were identified yet.
Indeterminate scales were accumulated in huts, but bones of fish regularly occurred in other settlement and cemetery features too. Except single questionable find, no bird bone was identified in spite of sensitive retrieval techniques for microfauna (flotation).
Similar to fish scales, eggshells comes exclusively from huts (feature 48, 54, 74, 81) which indicates food preparation and/or consumption. The thickness (0.499; 0.567 mm) of selected eggshell fragments from Hallstatt hut 54 and its taxonomic determination (ZooMS, BioArch, University of York) suggest the exploitation of (wild?) gooses (subfamily Anserinae) and no chicken rearing during the earlier phase of occupation.
Animals' assortment shows that sheep, dog, horse, roe deer and otter remains occur only in the La Tène features. Concerning relative representation of bone remains and its chronological changes, a significantly higher percentage of fish (15,8 % versus 5,1 % of NISP excluding scales, eggshells and antlers) and slight predominance of wild over domestic mammals (8,3 % versus 7,5 %) was observed during the Hallstatt period.
On the other hand, there was clear predominance of domestic mammals during the La Tène period. Within the group of three most important domestic mammals, bones of cattle prevail during both periods.
A slightly higher percentage of caprines (La Tène) or pig/boar (Hallstatt) bones was registered in settlement features. Total of 282 remains from Hallstatt cremation graves provided remains of caprines, pig, fish and deer (table 3).
However, just the first three species were present within the jar infills. The unidentified small rodent bones (of Mus and Citellus size) should be considered as intrusions.
The jar number 3 of grave 70 revealed two cranial fish bones and the same grave infill contained other elements of fish - vertebrae and ribs. No fish scales were identified in the graves.
The infills of both graves also included elements of immature pigs (one neonatal individual in the grave 70 and one neonatal and one juvenile/subadult pig in the grave 71). Some bones were calcined and indistinguishable from human remains.
The absence of fish scales and presence of cut marks on pig elements (ribs) suggest that pork and fish meat portion were offered in this context as a part of a dish. The settlement refuse involved a number of worked specimens (NISP = 25).
Except single elaborated object representing a decorated horse bit side plate, these finds belong to the waste of (domestic) crafting of redvdeer antlers/sheds.