Faunal remains from SWA13
Vida Rajkovača
A small assemblage came from two trenches, as well as from the collection of the material
from the top soil. The total amount of bone recovered came to 93 assessable specimens, 43 of
which were assigned to species level. The assemblage showed an overall good level of
surface preservation, with only a few specimens showing signs of weathering or being
affected by gnawing. The material was highly fragmented, however, with the largest
proportion of unidentifiable elements being assigned to size-categories. The overall
dominance of sheep/ goat and pig is reflected in the high counts for the sheep-sized splinters.
Trench 1 contained slightly more bone than Trench 2, and, although pigs accounted for more
than all other species combined, it has to be noted that the number includes a proportion of
loose teeth and mandibular elements, which are more fragmentary.
Taxon
Cow
Sheep/ goat
Pig
Horse
Rabbit
Subtotal to species
Cattle-sized
Sheep-sized
Bird n.f.i.
Total
Spoil heap material [13] [14] [15]
3
.
.
.
5
.
1
.
6
1
6
.
.
1
1
.
1
.
.
.
15
2
8
.
6
.
.
.
13
1
4
3
1
.
.
.
35
3
12
3
Total NISP % NISP
3
12
6
24
13
52
2
8
1
4
100
25
6
.
21
.
1
.
.
53
Table 1. Number of Identified Specimens for all species from Trench One; the abbreviation n.f.i. denotes that
the specimen could not be further identified.
A similar range of species came from Trench 2, which was dominated by the remains of
ovicapra.
Taxon
Cow
Sheep/ goat
Pig
Dog
Subtotal to species
Cattle-sized
Sheep-sized
Total
Spoil heap material [9] [11]
5
.
.
2
1
8
1
.
.
1
.
.
9
1
8
3
3
.
4
7
5
16 11
13
Total NISP % NISP
5
27.7
11
61.1
1
5.6
1
5.6
100
18
6
.
16
.
.
40
Table 2. Number of Identified Specimens for all species from Trench Two.
A number of elements recovered from the top soil showed signs of butchery, with most
common actions recorded being sawing and chopping to portion-sizes. The skeletal element
count showed a prevalence of mandibular elements and loose teeth, although a few cattle and
pig metapodials were recorded, as well as a few sheep/ goat humeri and a pig ulna with a
chop mark, suggesting the assemblage’s domestic character.