Fish and Archaeology: Studies in osteometry, taphonomy, seasonality and fishing methods 9780860543787, 9781407345611

Table of contents :
Cover
Copyright
PREFACE
CONTENTS
FISH AND ARCHAEOLOGY
SOME REMARKS ON STURGEON FISHING IN THE SOUTHERN BALTIC REGION IN MEDIEVAL TIMES.
FEATURES OBSERVED ON THE SKELETONS OF SOME RECENT EUROPEAN ACIPENSERIDAE: THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR THE STUDY OF EXCAVATED REMAINS OF STURGEON.
SITE FORMATION AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FISH REMAINS. AN ETHNOHISTORICAL EXAMPLE FROM THE NORTHERN ISLES, SCOTLAND.
FISHING AND CONSUMPTION OF COD (GADUS MORHUA LINNAEUS, 1758) IN THE MIDDLE AGES.
FISH BONE SURVIVAL IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS OF THE PIG, DOG AND MAN: SOME EXPERIMENTS.
FISH BONES IN LATE MESOLITHIC HUMAN GRAVES AT SKATEHOLM, SCANIA, SOUTH SWEDEN.
ARCHAEOZOOLOGY OF LATE PREHISTORIC PORTUGUESE SITES WITH MARINE AND RIVERINE RESOURCES.
FISHBONES EXCAVATED IN TWO LATE ROMAN-BYZANTINE CASTELLA IN THE SOUTHERN DESERT OF ISRAEL.
SOME NOTES ON THE FISH REMAINS FROM WADI KUBBANIYA (UPPER EGYPT; LATE PALAEOLITHIC).
THE PRESENCE OF BONES OF EEL, ANGUILLA ANGUILLA, IN RELATION TO TAPHONOMIC PROCESSES, CULTURAL FACTORS AND THE ABUNDANCE OF EEL.
THE STINGRAY, DASYATIS PASTINACA (L.) IN DENMARK.
FISH REMAINS FROM SMEERENBJJRG, A 17TH CENTURY DUTCH WHALING STATION ON THE WESTCOAST OF SPITSBERGEN.

Citation preview

Fish and Archaeology· Studies in osteometry, taphonomy, seasonality and fishing methods edited by

D. C. Brinkhuizen and A. T. Clason

BAR International Series 294

1986

B.A.R.

5, Centremead, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 ODQ, England.

GENERAL EDITORS A.R. Hands, B.Sc., M.A., D.Phil. D.R. Walker, M.A.

BAR-S294,1986 : 'Fish and Archaeology'. © The Individual Authors, 1986 The authors’ moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher. ISBN 9780860543787 paperback ISBN 9781407345611 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860543787 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com

P REFACE

T his c ollection o f p apers i s t he o utcome o f t he t hird F ish-Osteoa rchaeological m eeting, w hich w as h eld i n S eptember 1 985 a t t he U niversity o f G roningen u nder t he a uspices o f t he B iological-Archaeol ogical I nstitute. T he m eeting w as o rganized b y t he F ish-Archaeology W orking G roup o f t he I nternational C ouncil f or A rchaeozoology ( ICAZ). S ince t he r esearch o f f ish r emains i s s till a c omparatively n ew s pecialism w ithin t he s tudy o f a nimal r emains o f p re- a nd p rotohistoric s ites, w e t hought i t w ould b e u seful t o p ublish t he p apers t hat w ere p resented d uring t he m eeting. W e w ould l ike t o e xpress o ur g ratitude t o B AR f or m aking t his p ossible. W ith o ne e xception t he p apers h ave b een a rranged i n t he a lphabetic al o rder o f t he a uthors' n ames. T hey d eal m ainly w ith f ish r emains c ollected i n E urope, w ith t he a ddition o f t wo p apers o n f ish r emains f rom I srael a nd E gypt. W e s hould l ike t o t hank t hose m embers o f t he s taff o f t he B iolog isch-Archaeologisch I nstituut, c olleages a nd f riends w ho h elped u s t o m ake t he c onference a s uccess. F inally w e w ish t o e xpress o ur t hanks t o E ngelien R ondaan-Veger a nd D ethmer K ielman f or t heir p art i n t he c ompilation o f t his b ook. T he v ertebrae o n t he c over w ere d rawn b y M r. H .R. R oelink.

D .C. B rinkhuizen, A .T . C lason, B iologisch-Archaeologisch I nstituut P oststraat 6 , 9 712 E R G roningen T he N etherlands.

i

C ONTENTS

A u thor

T itle

P ages

A nneke T .Clason:

F ish a nd A rchaeology.

1 -8

N orbert B enecke:

S ome r emarks o n s turgeon f ishing i n t he s outhern B altic r egion i n M edieval t imes.

9 -17

D ick C .

S arah M .

B rinkhuizen:

C olley:

D irk H einrich:

A ndrew G .K.

J ones:

L eif J onsson:

A n L entacker:

H anan L ernau:

W im v an N eer:

W ietske P rummel:

K nud R osenlund:

M arion S eeman:

F eatures o bserved o n s ome r ecent E uropean t heir i mportance f or e xcavated r emains o f

t he s keletons o f A cipenseridae: t he s tudy o f s turgeon.

1 8-33

S ite f ormation a nd a rchaeological f ish r emains. A n e thnohistorical e xample f rom t he N orthern I sles, S cotland.

3 4-41

F ishing a nd c onsumption o f C od ( Cadus m orhua L innaeus, 1 758) i n t he M iddle A ges.

4 2-52

F ish b one s urvival i n t he d igestive s ystems o f t he p ig, d og a nd m an: s ome e xperiments.

5 3-61

F ish b ones i n L ate M esolithic h uman g raves a t S kateholm, S cania, S outh S weden.

6 2-79

A rchaeozoology o f L ate P rehistoric P ortuguese s ites w ith m arine a nd r iverine r esources.

8 0-84

F ish b ones e xcavated i n t wo L ate R omanB yzantine C astella i n t he s outhern d esert o f I srael.

8 5-102

S ome n otes o n t he f ish r emains f rom W adi K ubbaniya ( Upper E gypt; L ate P alaeolithic).

1 03-113

T he p resence o f b ones o f e el, A nguilla a nguilla, i n r elation t o t aphonomic p rocesses, c ultural f actors a nd t he a bundance o f e el.

1 14-122

T he s ting r ay, i n D enmark.

1 23-128

D asyatis p astinaca ( L.)

F ish r emains f rom S meerenburg, a 1 7th c entury D utch w haling s tation o n t he W estcoast o f S pitsbergen.

i i

1 29-139

F ISH A ND A RCHAEOLOGY

A .T.

C lason

B iologisch-Archaeologisch I nstituut P oststraat 6 9 712 E R G roningen

( B.A.I.)

T he N etherlands

K eywords: T HE N ETHERLANDS, B EETGUM, P IKE, P LAICE, F LOUNDER, S TURGEON.

S UBFOSSIL

F ISH

R EMAINS,

C ATFISH,

I NTRODUCTION T he a ims o f t he s tudy o f s ubfossil f ish r emains i n g eneral a re m anifold. F ish r emains c an t ell u s s omething a bout t he f ormer d istribut ion o f a s pecies, t he t ime o f i ntroduction a nd/or t he e xtinction o f a s pecies, p alaeoclimates i n g eneral, a nd e specially s omething a bout f ood p references

o f

t he

i nhabitants

o f

p rehistoric

a nd

e arly

h istoric

s ettlements, t he e nvironment o f t heir s ettlements, t heir f ishing m ethods, t he s eason i n w hich t he f ish w as c aught, a nd t he d omestication o f c ertain s pecies.

R ESEARCH I N T HE N ETHERLANDS 1 9th c entury I n

t he

f irst

h alf

o f

t he

n ineteenth

c entury,

o ne

o f

t he

f irst

z oologists, p robably t he v ery f irst, b oth i n T he N etherlands a nd a broad, t o s tudy f ish r emains c ollected d uring a n a rchaeological e xcav ation w as D epartment

P rof. D r. H . S chlegel, o f t he S tate N atural

t he f irst k eeper o f t he M ammals H istory M useum i n L eyden. P rof.

S chlegel w as a sked b y D r. J anssen, k eeper o f t he S tate Museum o f A ntiquities i n t he s ame t own t o s tudy t he a nimal r emains c ollected d uring a n i nvestigation o f t he e arly m edieval t own o f D orestad ( Figure 1 ) i n 1 842. I n a n 1 843 p ublication J anssen s tated: ' In o rder t o e xtract t he m aximum p ossible s cientific b enefit f rom t he e xcavations w e h ad b een

c areful

t o

k eep

t he

e xcavated

b ones

s eparate,

s o

t hat

t hey

c ould

b e e xamined b y a n e xpert t o e stablish w hat d ifferent s pecies w ere r epresented, h ow m any o f e ach s pecies, w hether t here w ere f ossils a mong t hem e tc.' ( quoted f rom P ru i nmel, 1 983). -

A mong t he b ones c ollected w ere t he r emains o f t hree f ish s pecies; c atfish S iluris g lanis, p ike E sox l ucius, a nd s turgeon A cipenser -

s turio.

-

K nowledge

o f

t he

p resence

-

o f

a c atfish

b one

-

a s pina

p innae

p ectoralis, i n a n 8 th-century A D s ettlement c ould h ave a voided t he d iscussion, i n t his c entury, a bout w hether t he c atfish w as a n i ndigenous s pecies i n T he N etherlands t hat s hould b e p rotected, o r w hether t he s pecies w as i ntroduced i n t he l ate m edieval o r a n e ven l ater p eriod b y m onks o r m ercha nts. T he k nowledge a bout t he 8 th-century f ish w as t hen, h owever n o l onger a vailable a nd t he c atfish w as p ut o n

t he

l ist o f

e ndangered

s pecies.

l t 1

w as o nly

w hen B rinkhuizen ( 1979)

A .T.

C LASON:

F ISH A ND A RCHAEOLOGY

s tarted t he s ystematic r esearch o f t he f ish r emains o f a n umber o f p rehistoric a nd e arly h istoric s ettlements i n t he s eventies o f t his c entury t hat i t b ecame c lear t hat c atfish h ad b een p resent i n t he d rainage b asin o f t he s outhern a nd w estern p arts o f T he N etherlands a t l east f rom t he s econd h alf o f t he f ourth m illennium B C o nwards. T he

s tudy

c ontinued f rom

t he

b y

o f

a nimal

S chlegel.

a gricultural

b ones

O nly

a t

c ollected t he

U niversity

e nd

a t

d uring

o f

t he

e xcavations c entury

1 9th

W ageningen

s tarted

w as

n ot

s cientists

t o

s tudy

t he

b ones o f d omestic m ammals c ollected d uring t he e xploitation ( i.e. s elling o f t he r emoved e arth) o f p rehistoric a nd e arly h istoric d welling m ounds t he t erpen, i n t he c lay a rea o f t he p rovinces o f -

G roningen a nd F riesland. 2 0th c entury I t

w as

t he

f ounder

( B.A.I.), A lbert c entury s tudied a bove-mentioned

o f

t he

B iological-Archaeological

I nstitute

E gges v an G iffen, w ho, i n t he b eginning o f t his t he r emains o f w ild a nimals c ollected d uring t he l evelling o f t he t erpen. H e d escribed t hem i n h is

t hesis, ' Die F auna d er W urten', w hich a ppeared i n 1 913. V an G iffen c ollected a nd d escribed t he r emains o f f our f ish s pecies, s turgeon A cipenser s turio, p ike E sox l ucius, c od G adus m orhua a nd f lounder o r p laice P leuronectes ( Platichthys) f lesus o r P leuronectes p latessa. -

-

-

-

T hree b one f ragments o f t he s turgeon f rom t he t erp o f W esteremden' w ere s tudied, a n o perculare ( suboperculare), a p aroccipitale ( suboperculare) a nd a p arasphenoid. o f

t he

b ones,

a nd

V an G iffen m easured w hat h e c ompared

t hese

m easurements

t hen c alled w ith

t hose

t he l ength

o f

a r ecent

s turgeon i n t he c ollection o f t he Z oological L aboratory o f t he S tate U niversity o f G roningen. T his s turgeon h ad a l ength o f 1 160 m m m easured f rom t he

t ip o f

i ts

s nout

t o

t he e nd o f

i ts t ail.

V an G iffen c oncluded

t hat t he W esteremden s turgeon h ad a l ength o f c a. 2 2 .5 m . A t t hat t ime, s turgeons w ere s till l iving n ear t he s eacoast o f t he p rovinces o f -

F riesland a nd G roningen, a nd w ere e ven f ound, a ccording t o V an G iffen, i n t he f resh-water l akes o f t he p rovince o f F riesland, a lthough r arely. O n w hose a uthority V an G iffen g ives t his i nformation i s n ot k nown. I t s eems h owever, u nlikely t hat t his w as t rue, s ince t he f resh-water l akes o f F riesland h ad n o d irect n atural c onnections w ith t he s ea b y r ivers. T he b ones o f t he o ther s pecies w ere a lso m easured b ut n ot c ompared w ith m easurements o f r ecent m aterial. F rom t he p resence o f p ike r emains i n t he t erp o f L eermens i n t he p rovince o f G roningen V an G iffen c onclud ed t hat a t t hat t ime f resh-water s treams o r p onds m ust h ave e xisted i n t he v icinity o f t he t erp, o r t hat t he i nhabitants h ad b rought t he f ish f rom t he n eighbouring s andy a reas. T he r emains o f c od i n t he t erp o f 0 osterwijtwerd i n t he p rovince o f G roningen f rom l ayers d ated b y V an G iffen t o t he 2nd o r 3 rd c entury A D, p ointed t o t he f act t hat t he i nhabitants

f ished a t

s ea.

A n umber

o f

c omplete

s keletons

o f

f lat-fish

w ere f ound i n a s hallow d itch i n a t erp n orth-east o f W itmarsum i n t he p rovince o f F riesland. A lthough V an G iffen w as n ot c ertain a bout t he s pecies,

s ince

t hought t hat t he f ish w as b etween

h e

h ad

n o

r ecent

r eference

m aterial

a vailable,

h e

f lounder w as t he m ost l ikely. T he t otal l ength o f t he 1 00 a nd 2 10 m m. T he f ish c ould h ave b een c aught i n t he 2

A .T.

C LASON:

F ISH A ND A RCHAEOLOGY

t hen n earby M iddeizee, b ut a lso i n f resh-water s treams. T he s ituation o f t he c omplete s keletons i n a s hallow d itch r eminded V an G iffen o f t he p ractice o f r ecent f ishermen o f t he i slands w ho s tored l iving f lat-fish i n s hallow f resh-water d itches. T he f ish r emains c ollected b y V an G iffen a re n ot n umerous. D uring l ater s ystematic e xcavations o f s everal t erpen b oth i n t he p rovinces o f F riesland a nd G roningen, i n t he s ixties a nd s eventies, f ish r emains w ere w ere

c ollected c arefully

t otal

a bsence

i n s mall n umbers, i f a t a ll. A lthough c ollected, t he m aterial w as n ot s ieved o f

f ish

r emains

w as

t hought

t o

b e d ue

a nimal r emains a nd t he a lmost

t o

t his

o mission.

On t he o ther h and, d uring t he e xcavation o f t he t erp o f H eveskesklooster i n t he n orth-east o f t he p rovince o f G roningen t hat s tarted i n 1 982, f ish r emains w ere a lso f ew a nd f ar b etween i n t he l ayers

o f

n umber

o f

t he

R oman

s amples

a nd w ere

t he

e arly

m edieval

w ater-sieved.

I t

p eriods,

c annot

b e

a lthough

a l arge

p ossible,

e ither,

t hat t he c onditions f or t he c onservation o f f ish r emains i n H eveskesk looster w ere u nfavourable, f or f ish a bounded i n t he l ate m edieval m oat o f a m onastery s ituated o n t he f lank o f t he t erp. E ven w ithout s ieving, n umerous f ish r emains o f m ore t han o ne s pecies c ould b e d etected t here. I t i s p ossible t hat f ish w as n ot a n i mportant f ood f or t he i nhabitants o f t he t erpen b efore t he l ate m iddle a ges, a lthough w ritten s ources f rom t he R oman p eriod m ention f ishing p ractised b y t he i nhabitants o f t he N orthern N etherlands. I n t his c onnection t he i nteresting v otive s tone o f t he g oddess o f H ludana f rom B eetgum ( Figure 2 ) i n F riesland s hould b e m entioned. I t w as f ound i n 1 888 a nd i t c an b e d ated t o t he e nd

o f

t he

f irst

c entury

A D.

T he

i nscription

c an

b e

r ead

c learly

a nd

r eads ( quoting i n t ranslation f rom t he D utch t ranslation): ' Roman l easeholders o f t he f ishery o f w hich Q uintus V alerius S ecundus w as t he r esponsible

l eader

o r

m anceps'

( C.I.L.

X III.

8 830).

T he

s tatue

o f

t he

g oddess i s s everely d amaged. H iudana o r L ucena w as a g oddess w orshipped i n t he l ower R hine a rea. O ther i nscriptions m entioning h er n ame a re k nown f rom H oldoorn n ear N ijmegen i n t he N etherlands a nd I versheim n ear B onn i n t he F ederal G erman R epublic. O n t he c ontinent, t he B eetgum s tone

i s

i t i s 1 951).

t o

t he o nly

a lso

t he

o ne n orth o f

o nly

R oman

t he

p rincipal w aterway

i nscription

m entioning

o f t he R hine a nd

f ishery

( Boeles,

A ccording t o B oeles t he w aters t hat w ere l eased m ust h ave b elonged t he f ormer M iddelzee. H e b elieved B eetgum t o h ave b een t he h arbour

w here t he R oman f ishermen l ived. B oeles t hought t hat t he f ish w ere b rought t o t he R hine a rea a nd i ntended f or t he i nhabitants o f t he R oman c astella a long t hat r iver. H ow m uch o f t his i s t rue c an p robably n ever b e p roved. I f t he f ish w as b rought s outhwards i t m ust h ave b een d ried, s moked, o r s alted b efore i t c ould h e t ransported. N or d id V an G iffen c ontinue h is r esearch o n a nimal r emains. l ate

f ifties

t his

w ork

w as

s tarted

a gain

b y

m yself,

B rinkhuizen w ho i nitiated t he s tudy o f t he s ubfossil m odern f ooting i n t he s eventies i n T he N etherlands. T he B .A.I. t ies

i nclude

i s a t

f ish

b ut

c ollection 3

o f

f ish

s keletons

w as

r emains o n a

p resent w ell-equipped f or t his s tudy,

a r eference

I n t he i t

o f

i ts f aciliN orth-West

A .T.

C LASON:

F ISH A ND A RCHAEOLOGY

E uropean f ish s pecies. I n t his c ollection s pecies a re r epresented b y m ales a nd f emales o f d ifferent a ge c lasses. P articulars a bout t he w eight o f t he f ish, t he l ength o f t he c omplete f ish a nd t he s eason i n w hich i t w as c aught a re k nown. S ome s pecies t hat a re f ound i n p re- a nd e arly h istoric s ites a nd w hich w ere s till c ommon i n t he b eginning o f t he c entury h ave, h owever, d isappeared. S pecimens o f t hese s pecies h ave t o b e o btained f rom e lsewhere i f t his i s p ossible, o r c ome f rom o ld m useum c ollections, a s, f or e xample, i n t he c ase o f t he s keleton o f t he s turgeon ( Clason, 1 983(1986)). R ESEARCH A BROAD I n D enmark t he s tudy o f s ubfossil f ish r emains f rom a rchaeological s ites a lso s tarted i n t he 1 9th c entury. T he n ames o f S teenstrup ( 1851) a nd W inge ( 1888) s hould b e m entioned. T hey i dentified f ish r emains f rom E rteb lle s ettlements o r s hell m ounds. I n t his c entury t he s tudy w as i nitially c ontinued b y D egerb l ( 1945), t hereafter b y M hl, R osenlund a nd N oe-Nygaard. I n 1 976 R osenlund p ublished a c atalogue o f s ubfossil D anish f ish r emains c ontaining a ll t he p reserved f ish s pecies f rom t he I nterglacial E emian P eriod a nd l ater. C asteel ( 1976) m entions t he e arly w ork o f S auvage ( 1875) o n t he f ish r emains o f t he P alaeolithic s ites i n F rance a nd t hat o f K ishinouye ( 1911) o n t he f ish r emains o f J apanese s hell m ounds. R ltimeyer ( 1861), t he f ather o f a rchaeozoology, a lso d escribed f ish r emains f rom S wiss s ites i n t he l ast c entury. I n

t he

b one

i dentification

b ooks

o f

H ue

( 1907),

C ornwall

( 1956,

1 964) a nd G ilbert ( 1973) f ish s keletons a re m issing. T he s ame h olds f or b irds. E ven t he u seful, c omparatively m odern b one a tlas o f E lisabeth S chmid ( 1972) c ontains n o d rawings o f f ish s keletal p arts, w ith t he e xception o f o ne v ertebra o f a n u nspecified s pecies. D uring t he s eventies t hree b ooks w ere p ublished w hich c ontained p roposals t o s tandardize t he r esearch, d escription a nd m easurement o f s ubfossil f ish r emains o f a rchaeological s ites; F ish R emains i n A rchaeo logy a nd P alaeo-environmental S tudies b y C asteel i n 1 976; F ish B one M easurements, a n a ttempt t o s tandardize t he m easuring o f f ish b ones f rom a rchaeological s ites b y M orales a nd R osenlund i n 1 979; a nd U nters uchungen a n F ischH aithabu b y L epiksaar

r esten a us d er f rlhmittelalterlichen S iedlung a nd H einrich i n 1 977. T he a uthors o f t he l ast-

mentioned w ork g ave u seful a dvice c oncerning n ot o nly t he m easuring o f f ishbones b ut a lso t he w ay i n w hich t o q uantify t he f ish r emains. I t w as, h owever, L epiksaar w ho i n t he s ixties a nd s eventies o f t he 2 0th c entury g ave a n i mportant i mpetus t o t he s tudy o f s ub-fossil f ish r emains. T his w as n ot o nly b ecause o f h is r emarkable k nowledge o f a natomy, p alaeontology, s ystematics, e cology a nd e thology o f f ishes, h is n umerous p ublications o n t his s ubject, b ut a lso b ecause o f t he p ractical s upport h e g ave t o t hose w ho s tarted t he s tudy o f s ubfossil f ish r emains. I f R i ltimeijer i s t he f ather o f a rchaeozoology, L epiksaar i s t he f ather o f t he r esearch o f s ubfossil f ish r emains.

4

A .T.

C LASON:

F ISH A ND A RCHAEOLOGY

F ISH W ORKING G ROUP T he f ormation o f a f ish w orking g roup I t h ad a lready b een d iscussed d uring C onference i n P oland i n 1 978, b ut i t w as a nd R osenlund t ook t he i nitiative t o c all F ebruary t he 2 7th a nd 2 8th) a s mall n umber f orm a w orking g roup a nd t o o rganize a n y ear. A s a r esult o f t his i nitiative t he w as h eld l ater i n t he s ame y ear, o n t he

w as o nly a q uestion o f t ime. t he 3 rd A rchaeozoological n ot u ntil 1 981 t hat J ohnson t ogether ( in G othenburg, o n o f ' fish p eople' i n o rder t o i nformal m eeting l ater t hat f irst f ish-osteology m eeting 2 8th a nd 2 9th o f A ugust, i n

C openhagen ( Denmark). T his m eeting w as o rganized b y B qdker E nghoff, R ichter a nd R osenlund ( B dker E nghoff e t a l., 1 981) a nd a ttended b y 1 5 p articipants. T he m eeting w as s o s uccesfull t hat i t w as f ollowed b y a s econd o ne t wo y ears l ater. T he s econd m eeting w as o rganized b y D esse ( 1984) a nd t ook p lace i n S ophia A ntipolis V albonne i n t he s outh o f F rance f rom t he 1 4th t o 1 6th o f O ctober, 1 983. T his m eeting h ad a m ore f ormal c haracter a nd w as a ttended b y 2 8 p articipants. I n F rance i t w as d ecided t hat t he t hird c onference s hould b e h eld i n T he N etherlands i n 1 985. -

I n 1 982 t he g roup w as r ecognized a s a W orking G roup o f t he I ntern ational C ouncil f or A rchaeozoology ( I.C.A.Z.) d uring t he 4th I ntern ational A rchaeozoological C onference i n L ondon.

A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS T he t ext w as c orrected b y M s. B .A. V an d er M eulen-Melrose, B . S c. T he p icture o f t he v otive s tone o f H iudana w as p rovided b y H et F ries M useum.

N OTES 1 ) I n h is f indplace,

t hesis V an G iffen g ives t he t erp o f W esterwijtwerd a s b ut i n a h andwritten i nventory h e m entions W esteremden.

t he

R EFERENCES Bdker E nghoff, I ., J . R ichter & K . O steoarchaeology M eeting. C openhagen.

R osenlund

( eds.)

( 1981).

B oeles, P .C.J.A. ( 1951). F riesland t ot d e e lfde e euw. e n v roege g eschiedenis. ' s-Gravenhage, M artinus N ijhof. B rinkhuizen,

D .C.

( Siluris g lanis L .) i n A rchaeozoology. S zczecin. C asteel, R .W. A cademic P ress.

( 1979). t he

( 1976).

O n

t he

f inds

N etherlands.

F ish

r emains

5

I n:

i n

o f M .

Z iln

E uropean K ubasiewicz

a rchaeology.

F ish

v óór-

c atfish ( ed.),

L ondon,

A .T.

F ISH A ND A RCHAEOLOGY

C lason, A .T. ( 1983(1986)). T he z oological r eference c ollection o f B iologisch-Archaeologisch I nstituut i n G roningen. P alaeohistoria

t he 2 5,

C LASON:

2 11-216.

p p.

C ornwall, I .W. P hoenix H ouse L td. 2nd

( 1956). B ones e dition 1 964.

f or

D egerb l, M . ( 1945). S ubfossile V idensk. M edd. B ind 1 08. Kbenhavn.

H ue,

E .

B .M.

( 1973).

M ammalian

a rchaeologist.

F ish O steoarchaeology M eeting 1 6). P aris, C .N.R.S.

2 nd

o steo-archaeology.

( 1907). M usde O stdologique.

L ondon,

f isk f ra K wartaertiden i D enmark.

D esse-Berset, N . ( ed.) ( 1984). ( Notes e t M onographies t echniques No. G ilbert, M issouri.

t he

U niversity

o f

P aris.

K ishinouye, K . ( 1911). P rehistoric f ishing i n J apan. A gricultural U niversity T okyo 2 , pp. 3 28-382.

J ournal

C ollege

P rummel, W . ( 1983). E arly M edieval D orestad; a n a rchaeo-zoo l ogical s tudy. ( Nederlandse O udheden 1 1; K romme R ijn p roject 2 ). ' s-Gravenhage, S taatsuitgeverij. R ltimeyer,

L .

( 1861).

D ie F auna d er P fahlbauten i n d er S chweiz. U nter-

s uchungen Ü ber d ie G eschichte d er M itteleuropa. B asel, B ahnmaier.

w ilden

u nd

d er

H aus-S ugetiere

v on

S auvage, H .E. ( 1875). O n f ishing d uring t he R eindeer-period. I n: E . L artet & H . C hristy ( eds.). R eliquiae A quitanicae; b eing c ontributions t o t he a rchaeology a nd p alaeontology o f P erigord a nd t he a djoining p rovinces o f S outhern F rance. S chmid, E . ( 1972). A tlas o f a nimal b ones; K nochenatlas. L ondon, N ew Y ork, E lsevier P ublishing C ompany.

6

A msterdam ,

F igure 1 :

T he

5 ) W esteremden,

N etherlands: 6 ) L eersum,

1 ) D orestad,

2 ) W itmarsum,

7 ) O osterwijtwerd.

7

3 ) B eetgun i, 4 ) W esterw - l twerd,

Figure 2 : T he v otive s tone o f t he g oddess o f H iudana F riesland

( photo:

F ries M useum L eeuwarden).

8

f rom B eetgu z n

i n t he

p rovince o f

S OME

R EMARKS

O N

S TURGEON

F ISHING

I N

THE

S OUTHERN

B ALTIC

R EGION

I N

M EDIEVAL T IMES.

N orbert B enecke Z entralinstitut f Ur A lte G eschichte u nd A rch o1ogie A kademie d er W issenschaften d er D DR 1 086 B erlin L eipziger S trasse 3 -4 G erman D emocratic R epublic

K eywords : S OUTHERN B ALTIC A CIPENSER S TURIO, F ISHING.

B ecause

o f

t heir

R EGION,

p hysical

M IDDLE

A GES,

p roperties,

F ISH-OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY,

f ish

b ones

a re

s eldomly

e ncountered i n a rchaeological s ites. T his i s n ot t he c ase w ith s cutes o f s turgeon ( Acipenser s p.). T he l arge a nd c ompact d ermal p lates o f s turgeon a re o ften r ecovered i n a rchaeological d eposits, a nd b ecause o f t heir t ypical s tructure t hey a re e asily t o i dentify ( Casteel, 1 976: 3 8), a lso b y n on-ichthyologists. F or t hat r eason r emains o f s turgeon a re m entioned i n m any s ite r eports w ithout a ny d etailed i chthyological i nvestigation o f t he c omplete f ish b one m aterial. T he e xcavations a t R alswiek, a n e arly u rban s ettlement o n t he i sland o f R { lgen ( Herrmann, 1 978), h ave y ielded t housands o f b ony s hields o f s turgeon ( Acipenser s turio L .), w hich i ndicate t he g reat i mportance o f t his a nadromous s pecies i n t he m ed.eval f ishing o f R alswiek. T his s ituation l ed t o t he q uestion o f t he g eneral i mportance o f s turgeon f ishing i n t he s outhern B altic r egion d uring m edieval t imes. T herefore a ll a vailable d ata f rom i chthyo-osteological s ite r eports c oncerning t his q uestion w ere c ompiled. I n T able

1 a ll m edieval

s ites o f

t he

s outhern B altic

r egion w hich

y ielded r emains o f s turgeon ( Acipenser s turio L .) a re s ummarized. s ites w ith m ore t han 1 00 i dentified f ish b ones a re i ncluded i n

O nly t his

c ompilation. A mong t hese s ites S taraja L adoga, R alswiek, G da i ' isk a nd E lisenhof s how a h igh p ercentage o f s turgeon r emains ( over 2 0%) i n t he f ish b one m aterial. T his d oes n ot a utomatically m ean t hat s turgeon f ishing w as o f g reat i mportance i n t hose s ettlements. F rom a c omparison o f t he t wo m aterial g roups i n R alswiek ( hand-collected a nd w atersieved) o ne c an e asily s ee ( Table 1 ) t hat t he p ercentage o f s turgeon i s h ighly d ependent o n t he a pplied r ecovery t echnique. I n h and-collected f ish b one m aterial s turgeon r emains w ill a lways b e c onsiderably o verrepres ented. O n t he o ther s ide o ne m ust a lso t ake i nto c onsideration t he g reat b ody w eight o ne i ndividual c an r each. F or e xample, i n t he f ish b one m aterial f rom R alswiek ( material g roup 2 , s ieve m aterial), w here s turgeon i s r epresented b y o nly t wo i ndividuals, 3 1% o f t he e stimated t otal e nergy a nd p rotein y ield c omes f rom s turgeon ( see B enecke 1 983: T able 1 3.9). B ecause a g reat

p art

o f

t he

f ish

b one

m ate ial

f rom R alswiek c an

b e d ivided i nto s maller c hronological u nits ( pha e A p hase D ), w e c an g et s ome i nformation a bout t emporal c hanges i n t he i mportance o f s turgeon f ishing. I n p hase A , t he o ldest s e:tlement h orizont o f -

9

B ENECKE :

S OME R EMARKS O N S TURGEON F ISHING

R alswiek d ated f rom t he s econd h alf o f t he 8th c entury t o t he f irst h alf o f t he 9th c entury, t he p ercentage o f s turgeon r emains r uns t o n early 7 0%. I n t he f ollowing p hases o ne c an o bserve a s teady d ecrease i n t he p ercentage o f s turgeon u p t o o nly 1 5% i n p hase D ( Figure 1 , l eft). T hese f igures s eem t o i ndicate a d ecline i n s turgeon f ishing f rom t he 8th/9th t o t he 1 2th c entury. S imilar t emporal c hanges i n t he i mportance o f s turgeon f ishing w ere f ound i n G da r isk, a n e arly u rban s ettlement o n t he V istula b ay ( Figure 1 , r ight). T hese r esults a re b ased o n a l arger a mount o f f ish b one m aterial t han t hose f rom R alswiek. I n t he i chthyological m aterial f rom t he e arly m edieval s ettlement o f S taraja L adoga, w hich i s s ituated o n t he W olchow r iver t o t he e ast o f L eningrad, L ebedev ( 1960: 4 1) a lso o bserved a d ecrease i n t he p ercentage o f s turgeon r emains. C ontrary t o R alswiek a nd G da r ' isk t he d ecline i n s turgeon f ishing b egins a lready i n t he 8th/9th c entury. S tarting f rom t hese r esults t he q uestion a rises a bout t he c auses f or t he d rop i n s turgeon f ishing i n s everal s ites o f t he s outhern B altic r egion. I n t his c ontext t he r esults o f t he o steometric s tudy a re o f g reat i nterest. I n s turgeon t he b one p lates w hich c over t he t runk o f t his s pecies ( dorsal, l ateral a nd v entral r ow) a re s uitable f or t aking m easurements, b ecause c ontrary t o b ony s hields f rom t he s kull r egion t hey a re u sually i n a g ood s tate o f p reservation. A d isadvantage i s t he g reat v ariability o f b one p lates f rom t he d orsal, l ateral a nd v entral r ows i n o ne a nd t he s ame i ndividual. T he r esults f or R alswiek a re c ompiled i n T able 2 t ogether w ith t he m easurements f rom a r ecent s turgeon o f k nown t otal b ody l ength ( collection o f t he M useum f or N atural H istory B erlin, Z MB 3 1545). A c omparison o f t hese t wo s eries o f m easurements s hows ( Figure 2 , b elow) t hat t he s turgeons f ound i n R alswiek w ere o n a n a verage s ignificant l arger t han t he r ecent i ndiv idual o f 1 ,40 m b ody l ength. O ne c an s uppose t hat t he m ost o f t hem h ad a b ody l ength o f 2 -3 m . T he l argest s turgeons c aught i n R alswiek m ust h ave b een u p t o 5 m l ong. O n t he b asis o f o steometric s tudies U rbanowicz ( 1965: 3 75) c omes t o t he r esult t hat t he t otal b ody l ength o f t he s turgeons f ound i n G da r isk v aries f rom 5 0 c m t o 3 30 c m ( mean = 1 80 c m, N = 1 30). A ccording t o L ebedev ( 1960: 4 3) t he s turgeons f rom S taraja L adoga h ad a b ody l ength f rom 1 30 t o 3 60 c m ( mean = 2 50 c m, N = 6 3). S ince m ale s turgeons r each a m aximal b ody l ength f rom o nly 2 m ( Mohr, 1 952: 2 7; B auch, 1 966: 1 56) w e c an s uppose t hat t he M ost s turgeon r emains r ecovered i n R alswiek, G dadsk a nd S taraja L adoga c ome f irst o f a ll f rom l arge f emale i ndividuals. F emale s turgeons c an b ecome u p t o 6 m l ong ( Bauch, L et

u s

c ome

b ack

1 966: t o

1 56).

o ur

q uestion

a bout

t he

d ecrease

i n

s turgeon

f ishing i n t hree e arly m edieval s ettlements o f t he s outhern B altic r egion. I t i s h ighly i mprobable t hat t his p henomenon i s d ue t o n atural c aused f luctuations i n t he a bundance o f t his s pecies. i f t his w ould b e t rue, o ne h ad t o e xpect a s imultaneous d ecline i n s turgeon f ishing. F rom t he h erring f or e xample s uch f luctuations i n t he a bundance ( 'herring p eriods') a re k nown ( Lepiksaar & H einrich, 1 977: 2 9). A s t his i s n ot t he c ase ( se F igure 1 a nd a bove) i t s eems m ore l ikely t hat a n i ntensive f ishing o r . s turgeons o ver a l ong p eriod l ed t o a d ecline o f t he

l ocal

p opulations

a nd

f inally

f ishing a s o bserved i n R alswiek,

c aused

t he

d ecrease

G da r ' isk a nd S taraja L adoga. 1 0

i n

s turgeon

B ENECKE:

S OME R EMARKS O N S TURGEON F ISHING

I n l ate m edieval t imes t he s turgeon b ecame i ncreasingly s carce. A ccording t o L ega ( 1949: 5 6) t he s turgeon b elonged t o t he m ost f req uently m entioned f ish s pecies i n w ritten s ources o f t he 1 2th a nd 1 3th c entury i n P omerania, f irst o f a ll i n d onations. T his r eflects t he h igh v alue o f s turgeon a t t hat t ime. M ore a nd m ore f ishing t erritories c hanged o ver i n t he h ands o f m onasteries, f eudal l ords ( Urbanowicz, 1 965: 3 75) a nd o ther r eligious o r s ecular a uthorities. B rinkhuizen ( 1979: 9 0) r eports t hat t he f inancially p rosperous H anse t owns b ought o r s ecured t he r ights o f t he s overeign r egarding c atches o f s turgeon. I n t his c ontext i t i s i nteresting t o r ead t hat a lready 3 00 y ears a go r esponsible p eople w arned o f o verfishing a nd d emanded a m inimum v alue r egarding t he b ody l ength f or s turgeon f ishing ( Mohr, 1 952: 3 ).

R EFERENCES

B auch,

G .

( 1966).

D ie e inheimischen S t lsswasserfische. R adebeul.

B enecke, N . ( 1983). D ie T ierreste a us e iner f rlhmittelalterlichen S iedlung i n R alswiek/Kr. R i lgen e in B eitrag z ur F r t lhgeschichte d er H austierfauna i m s t ldlichen O stseegebiet. U nver3ffentlichtes M anuskript. B erlin. -

B enecke, N . ( in p ress). D ie F ischreste a us e iner f rlhmittelalterl ichen S iedlung b ei M enzlin, K r. A nklam. J ahrbuch f Ur B odendenkmalp flege i n M ecklenburg. B rinkhuizen, D .C. ( 1979). P reliminary n otes o n f ish r emains f rom a rchaeological s ites i n t he N etherlands. P alaeohistoria 2 1, pp. 8 3-90. C asteel, R .W. ( 1976). F ish r emains i n a rchaeology e nvironmental s tudies. L ondon/New Y ork/San F rancisco.

a nd

p aleo-

C heXkowski, Z . ( 1959). S zcz tki r yb w m ateriale w ykopaliskowyn z o sady w czesno redniowiecznej S zczecin-M ciçcino. M ateriaZy Z achodniop omorskie 5 , pp. 1 65-186. C heXkowski, Z . ( 1966). S zcz tki r yb z w arstw o sadnictwa w czesnor edniowiecznej o raz k ultury . X u yckiej ( Materialy z b ada i ' i r atunkowych p rzy u l. G rodzkiej w S zczecinie). M ateriaZy Z achodniopomorskie 1 2, p p. 1 21-141. C heXkowski, Z . & B . C heXkowska ( 1964). P ozostaZo ci r yb z grodziska i o sady w czesno redniowiecznej w Kdrzynie, p ow. K olobrzeg. M ateriaXy Z achodniopomorskie 1 0, pp. 3 43-365. D riesch, A . v on d en ( 1982). F ischreste a us d er s lawisch-deutschen F lrstenburg a uf d em W einberg i n H itzacker ( Elbe). N eue A usgrabungen u nd F orschungen i n N iedersachsen 1 5, pp. 3 95-423. E kman, J . ( 1973). Early M edieval L und l andscape. A rchaeologica L undensia 5 , pp. 1 -110. 1 1

-

t he

f auna

a nd

t he

B ENECKE :

S OME R EMARKS O N S TURGEON F ISHING

H al1str3m, A . ( 1979). D ie F ischknochen. I n: J . B oessneck, A . v on d en D riesch & L . S ternberger ( eds.), E ketorp B efestigung u nd S iedlung a uf O land ( Schweden). D ie F auna. S tockholm , pp. 4 22-492. -

H einrich, D . ( 1983). T emporal c hanges i n f ishery a nd f ish c onsumpt ion b etween E arly M edieval H aithabu a nd i ts s uccessor, S chleswig. I n: C . G rigson & J . C lutton-Brock ( eds.), A nimals a nd A rchaeology: 2 . S hell M iddens, F ishes a nd B irds ( B.A.R. I nternational S eries 1 83). O xford, p p. 1 51-156. H einrich, D . ( 1985). D ie F ischreste a us d er f rlhgeschichtlichen M arschensiedlung b eim E lisenhof i n E iderstedt. S chriften a us d er A rch ologisch-Zoologischen A rbeitsgruppe S chleswig-Kiel 9 , pp. 1 -89. H errmann, J . ( 1978). R alswiek a uf R i lgen J ahrhunderts u nd d ie F ernhandelsbeziehungen s chrift f ur A rch ologie 1 2, pp. 1 63-180.

e in H andelsplatz d es 9 . i m O stseegebiet. Z eit-

-

K aj, J . ( 1960). S zcz tki r ybie z e s tanowiska P ozna i ' i w e W czesnym r edniowieczu 2 , pp. 1 90-193. L ebedev, V .D. ( 1960). P resnovodnaja e vropejskol a sti S SSR. M oskva.

O strdw

c etverti naja

T umski

1 3.

i chtiofauna

L ebedev, V .D., K .P . M arkov, T .L. B achmet'eva & H . P askul' ( 1961). R yby i r ybolovstvo o bitatelej A sotskogo g orodi a ( XI-XIII v v. n . e .) n a D augave. I n: E .D. n ore, A sotskoe g orodi e. M aterialy i i ssledovanila p o a rcheologii L atvijskoj S SR 2 ,

2 26-233.

p p.

Jga, W . ( 1949). O braz g ospodarczy P omorza G danskiego w X II i X III w ieku. P ozna r l.

a us

L epiksaar, J . & D . H einrich ( 1977). U ntersuchungen a n F ischresten d er f rl lhmittelalterlichen S iedlung H aithabu. B erichte Ü ber d ie

A usgrabungen i n H aithabu 1 0, M ohr,

E .

( 1952).

R osenlund, K . F ishes. K qbenhavn.

p p.

9 -122.

D er S t3r ( Die N eue B rehm-ßlcherei 8 4).

( 1976).

C atalogue

o f

s ubfossil

S usXowska, W . & K . U rbanowicz ( 1967). w czesno redniowiecznego G da rsku ( X-XIII w .). w ieczny 6 , pp. 5 3-65. S y evskaja, E .K. ( 1956). A rcheologija 1 , pp. 2 36-256.

R yby

d revnego

D anish

L eipzig.

v ertebrates.

S zcz tki k ostne r yb z G da rsk W czesno rednio-

N ovgoroda.

S ovetskaja

U rbanowicz, K . ( 1965). PoZowy j esiotra z achodniego A cipenser s turio L . w e w czesno redniowiecznym G dar ' isku w A wietlematerial6w w ykopaliskowych. P rzegl d Z oologiczny 9 , pp. 3 72-377.

1 2

T able 1 . R emains o f s turgeon ( Acipenser s turio L .)

i n m edieval

s ites o f t he s outhern B altic r egion.

S ite

D ate

MNI' N umber o f f ish b ones otal S turgeon T otal S turgeon T

E ketorp-III

c .

5 9,576

1 000-1300

7 8

1 ,390

L und

1 020-1050

1 ,455

2

1 28

c .

3 89

1 100

1 ( 0.8%)

( 0.1%) P edersborg

2 ( 0.1%)

( 0.1%)

3 ( 0.8%)

E lisenhof

8 -13 th

C ent.

4 49

1 14

6 2

( 25.4%) S chleswig

1 1-14 th

C ent.

2 ,735

4 ( 6.5%)

1 9 ( 0.7%)

H aithabu

9 -11th C ent.

1 3,842

2

2 ,711

H itzacker

8 -16 th

C ent.

1 ,429

2 18

3 53

8 -12 th

C ent. 5 29

M aterial g roup I

2 50

1 9,040

M aterial g roup I I ( sieve m aterial) 9 -10th C ent.

8 ,785

5 0 ( 0.3%) 2 25 ( 2.6%)

S zczecin,

9 -13 th

C ent.

1 29

3 ( 2.3%)

G rodzka S treet S zczecin-M ciecino

9 -11th C ent.

6 90

1 01 ( 14.6%)

K edrzyno

811th C ent.

6 32

1 ( 0.2%)

G da i1i sk

1 44

( 47.3%)

( hand c ollected)

M enzlin

2 2 ( 6.2%)

( 15.3%) R alswiek

2 ( 0.1%)

( 0.01%)

1 0 13th C ent.

1 3,008 4 ,994 ( 38.4%)

1 3

9 20

2 5 ( 17.4%) 2 ( 0.2%)

5 08

6 ( 1.2%)

( Table 1 c ontinued)

S ite

D ate

P ozna t %,

1 1-15 th

O strów Tumski

N umber o f f ish M NI 1 b ones T otal S turgeon T otal S turgeon

C ent.

3 91

1 3

1

-

( 0.3%)

A sote

9 -13 th

C ent.

6 57

7

-

( 1.1%) N ovgorod

1 0-14 t h C ent.

4 43

6

-

( 1.4%) S taraja L adoga

7 -10th C ent.

1 ,180

5 78

-

( 49.0%) M NI 1

-

M inimum N umber o f I ndividuals

S ources:

H aliström ( 1979) E kr nan ( 1973)

E ketorp-III L und P edersborg

R osenlund ( 1976) H einrich ( 1985)

E lisenhof S chleswig

H einrich ( 1983) L epiksaar & H einrich ( 1977) V on d en D riesch ( 1982)

H aithabu H itzacker R alswiek M enzlin S zczecin,

B enecke ( 1983) B enecke ( in p ress) G rodzka S t.

C hej lkowski

S zczecin-Msciecino K edrzyno G da x ' isk P ozna i ' i,

( 1966)

C hetkowski ( 1959) C hetkowski & C hetkowska ( 1964) S us owska & U rbanowicz ( 1967)

A sote N ovgorod

K aj ( 1960) L ebedev e t a l. ( 1961) S ycevskaja ( 1956)

S taraja L adoga

L ebedev ( 1960)

O strów T umski

1 4

Table 2 . S turgeon ( Acipenser s turio L .) M easurements o n b ony s hields i n t he s ubfossil m aterial f rom R alswiek a nd i n a r ecent -

s turgeon ( total b ody l ength

=

1 .40 m ;

o nly t he l eft s ide w as

m easured). M aterial

M easurement

N

B ony s hields f rom t he d orsal r ow G reatest L ength R alswiek 5 5

m in.

m ax.

m ean

s

5 1.0

1 45.0

8 2.2

1 7.96

1 2 4 3 1 2

5 1.0 2 8.6 4 4.5

8 1.5 9 5.0 6 0.0

6 6.5 5 8.2 5 3.9

1 0.92 1 6.36 4 .63

B ony s hields f rom t he l ateral r ow G reatest L ength R alswiek 1 38 ‚‚ R ecent 3 3

2 6.0 2 0.5

8 3.2 3 3.0

4 4.9 2 7.6

1 0.85 3 .28

1 26 3 3

4 5.0 2 3.0

1 21.0 6 1.0

7 3.2 4 5.3

1 6.40 1 0.98

t he v entral r ow R alswiek 4 6 R ecent 1 2 R alswiek 4 5 R ecent 1 2

4 0.8 3 9.0 3 3.0 3 6.5

9 1.5 5 5.0 6 2.0 4 3.5

6 4.9 4 6.8 4 4.7 4 0.3

1 3.55 4 .95 7 .28 2 .50

l o p ‚‚ G reatest B readth ‚‚

G reatest B readth ‚‚

‚‚

B ony s hields f rom G reatest L ength 3 1 9 ‚‚ G reastest B readth ‚‚

j 1 p

R ecent R alswiek R ecent

R alswiek R ecent

1 5

0) j 4

z

RALS W IE

a

Ia N

C)

i IL 0)

N

C)

1 6

0 -

0 /0

3 0-

2 5-

2 0R atsw iek

N o 1 26

1 5-

1 0-

5 0

7 Ö

6 0

g o

8 0

i o o

10

1 20

1 30 mm GB

0 /0

N 7 ' -

3 5-

N

3 0-

R o tsw iek, No126 r ecen t s turgeon ( l eng ths

2 5-

1 . 40 r n1 ,N =3 3

2 0-

1 5 -

1 0

5 -

2'O

3 0

4 0

5 0

6 0

7'O

8 0

0

10

10

1 ! 20

F igure 2 : A cipenser s turio L ., b ony s hields f rom t he l ateral r ow m easurements " Greatest

B readth" i n

t he m aterial

-

mm GB

D istribution o f t he

f rom R alswiek ( above) a nd c omparison

w ith t he m easurements f rom a r ecent 1 .40 m l ong s turgeon ( below).

1 7

1 30

F EATURES O BSERVED O N T HE S KELETONS O F S OME R ECENT E UROPEAN A CIPENSER IDAE: THEIR I MPORTANCE F OR THE S TUDY OF E XCAVATED R EMAINS O F S TURGEON. D ick C .

B rinkhuizen

c /o B iologisch-Archaeologisch I nstituut ( B.A.I.) P oststraat 6 9 712 E R G roningen T he N etherlands

K eywords: Y UGOSLAVIA, D ANUBE, P ADINA, M ESOLITHIC, N EOLITHIC, A RCHAEOZ OOLOGY, Z OOLOGY, M ORPHOLOGY, S TURGEON, A CIPENSER, H USO, R ESORPTION.

I NTRODUCTION I n 1 978 D r. A .T. C lason a sked m e t o i dentify t he f ish r emains f rom P adina, a L ate M esolithic/Early N eolithic s ettlement s ituated i n t he I ron G ate ( Djerdap) o n t he Y ugoslavian b ank o f t he D anube'. I a ccented t his o ffer a nd t ogether w ith t he r esults o f h er s tudy o n t he o ther f aunal r emains f rom P adina, C lason ( 1980; T able 3 ) p ublished t he l ist o f t he p rovisionally i dentified f ish s pecies, a ccompanied b y a b rief c ommentary. T his l ist i ncluded t he s pecies: h uchen ( Hucho h ucho), E uropean c atfish ( Siluris g lanis), c arp ( Cyprinus c arpio) a nd o ther C yprinids a nd s turgeons ( Acipenser s p./Huso h uso). A t t hat t ime I i dent ified m ost e xcavated r emains o f A cipenseridae w ith t he a id o f s ome s keletons o f s terlet ( Acipenser r uthenus). I t w as n ot u ntil t he s pring o f 1 985 t hat I m anaged t o g et s ome s keletons o f R ussian s turgeon ( Acipenser g ueldenstaedti), o ne s keleton o f s tellate s turgeon ( Acipens er s te i Llatus) a nd t wo h ead, s houlder a nd t ail s keletons a nd p lates s amples o f b eluga ( Huso h uso) 2 . I n t he m ean t ime t he B iologisch-Archaeo logisch I nstituut o btained a s keleton o f a s turgeon ( Acipenser s turio). T his r eference m aterial m ade i t p ossible f or m e t o r e-examine t he s turgeon r emains f rom P adina. T he r esult o f t his r e-examination i s p resented i n t his p aper, a nd i s p receded b y a d iscussion o n s ome f eat ures o f t he s keletons o f A cipenseridae t hat a re o f i nterest f or t he i chthyo-archaeologist.

T HE S KELETONS O F A CIPENSERIDAE: S OME R EMARKS B ecause o f t he s triking s tructure o f t heir o uter s urface t he m aj ority o f e xcavated s turgeon r emains a re e asy t o r ecognize a s s uch. H owever t he e xoskeleton o f s turgeons v aries c onsiderably, n ot o nly b etween d ifferent s pecies, b ut a lso w ithin a s pecies ( Holmgren & S tensiB, 1 936: 4 41). B ecause o f t hese m orphological v ariations, t he d ifferent s keletal e lements g reatly r esemble o ne a nother a nd m any e xcav ated r emains a re t hus d ifficult t o a scribe t o t he c orrect s keletal e lement. T he c onfusion i n t he t erminology u sed b y d ifferent a uthors m akes c lassification, e specially o f t he s kull b ones, e ven m ore d iffic ult. T hese d ifferences i n t erminology a re c aused b y d ifferent v iews o n h omologies o f t he s kull b ones o f A cipenseridae w ith t hose o f o ther l ower G nathostomata 3 . S ewertzoff ( 1926: 4 52) p ointed o ut t hese d iffere nces a lready a l ong t ime a go. 1 8

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

T his c onfusion i n t erminology i s a lso r eflected i n a rchaeozool ogical p ublications. F or e xample H allstr l 3m ( 1979: 4 28, 4 47) a nd V on d en D riesch ( 1982: T able 3 ) n ame t he l argest b ony e lement o f t he g ill c over ' operculare', u nlike H einrich ( 1985: 3 4) w ho n ames t his ' subo perculare'. I n t his a rticle I s hall u se f or t he c ranial r oof b ones t he t erminology a dopted b y J arvik ( 1948). T he t erminology o f t he r emaining s kull b ones a nd e lements f rom t he s houlder-girdle i s b ased u pon t he p ublication o f H olmgren & S tensiB ( 1936) 4 . F igure 1 a nd 2a s how t he s kull o f A cipenser s turio a nd t he n ames o f t he d ifferent s keletal e lements. B ones o f t he c ranial r oof P arker ( 1882: 1 75) a lready m entioned a m orphological v ariation b etween w hat h e c alled ' buried s cutes' i n t he r ight a nd l eft o rbital r egion o f a l arge A cipenser s turio. J arvik ( 1948: 6 8-74) s tudied a bout 2 0 s kulls o f A cipenser s turio a nd i llustrations f rom p ublications. H e c oncluded t hat m any o f t he d ermal p lates o f t he c ranial r oof c an b e f ound s ubdivided i nto s maller p lates w hich a re a rranged i n r ows ( Figure 2b). I n t he c ase o f s ome o f t hese s maller p lates t he a uthor c ould n ot e stablish f rom w hich s keletal e lement t hey o riginated. I n o ther s pecimens h owever h e s aw t hat n ormally s eparate e lements w ere f used w ith a djoining e lements t o l arger u nits. A n e xample o f t his f eature i s s hown b y t he c ranial r oof o f a s pecimen o f A cipenser g ueldenstaedti ( Figure 3 ). H ere t he f rontale a nd p arietale f rom t he l eft s ide a re f used i nto a f ronto-parietale. O n t he o ther h and b oth h alves o f o ne o f t he t wo c ranial r oofs o f H uso h ave f used e lements w hich a re e ach o ther's m irror i mage ( not i llustrated). I n b oth e xamples n either o n t he l ateral n or o n t he m edial s urface o f t he c ompound e lements a re t races o f f usion v isible. B ecause o f t he v ariation i n s hape a nd s ize o f m ost c ranial r oof b ones, e xcavated s pecimens o f t hem c an h ardly b e i dentified t o s keletal e lement. O nly s ome e lements o f t he c ranial r oof s how s ome c lear d ist inguishing m arks t hat m ake i dentification l ess d ifficult. T hese e lements a re s upraorbitale 1, p ostorbitale, i nfraorbitale ( on a ccount o f t heir s hape), s upratemporale-in t er t empo r ale a nd p osttemporaie ( on a ccount o f t he p resence o f p ronounced r idges o r l amellae o n t heir m edial s urface). T hey c an b e u sed f or t he e stimation o f m inimum n umber o f i ndividuals. M easurements t aken f rom t hem a re h owever o f l ess v alue f or t he e stimations o f t he t otal l ength/weight o f t he f ish. R emains o f t he c ranial r oof b ones w ithout c lear d istinguishing m arks c annot b e u sed f or e ither t otal l ength/weight e stimations o r t he e stimation o f m inimum n umber o f i ndividuals. B ones o f t he g ill c over,

j aws a nd m outh c avity

T he m orphological v ariation i s n ot r estricted t o t he b ones o f t he c ranial r oof. A lso t he b ony e lements o f t he g ill c over ( suboperculare a nd s ome r udiments o f b ranchiostegalia) s how , a lthough t o a l esser e xtent, s ome v ariations ( Figure 4 ) . A s f ar a s I k now t hese v ariations h ave n ot b een s tudied i n d etail. R emains o f t he s uboperculare a nd t he 1 9

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

b ranchiostegale t hat l ies i mmediately u nder t he f ormer a re h owever w ell i dentifiable 6 . T hese t wo e lements c an b e u sed f or t he e stimation o f m inimum n umber o f i ndividuals. O n t he o ther h and t he s hape o f t he b ony c omponents o f t he j aws a nd m outh c avity ( dentale, p raemaxillo-maxill are, q uadratojugale, e ctopterygoid, e ntopterygoid a nd p arasphenoid) i s n ot v ariable b ut f ixed 7 . T o m e t he m easurements t aken o f t hese e lements s eem t o b e t he m ost u seful o nes f or t he e stimation o f s izes o f t he s turgeons c aught. I t i s c lear t hat t hey c an b e u sed f or t he e stimation o f m inimum n umber o f i ndividuals. H yomandibulare,

c eratohyale a nd b ranchial a rches

T he m iddle p art o f t he h yomandibulare i s o ssified. T he s hape o f t his r elatively l arge b one r esembles t hat o f a n h our-glass. T he m iddle p art o f t he c eratohyale i s a lso o ssified. J ust l ike t hose o f t he h yom andibulare, t he p roximal a nd d istal p art o f t his b one a re h ollow. B ecause t hese p arts o f t he b one a re v ery t hin,remains o f b oth e lements a re n early a lways f ound d amaged i n e xcavations. T his i s a lso t he c ase w ith r emains o f t he h ollow c eratobranchialia I -V a nd e pibranch ialia I a nd 1 18 . M easurements t aken o f a ll o f t hese b ones a re o f l ess v alue f or t he e stimation o f t he t otal l ength/weight o f t he f ish. O n t he o ther h and r emains o f t he h yomandibulare a nd c eratohyale c an b e u sed f or t he e stimation o f m inimum n umber o f i ndividuals. M iscellaneous b ones o f t he s kull T hese b ones a re a ntorbitalia,

n asalia, r ostralia,

b ony l ateralline

c anals ( basirostralia l ateralia) a nd v omer ( basirostralia m edialia). E xcept f or t he l ast-mentioned o ne, t hese s erial b ones a re s mall a nd t hin. T heir s hape v aries c onsiderably. T he v omer o f A cipenser s tellatus w hich i s i llustrated b y S ewertzoff ( 1926: F igure 3 7), c onsists o f m any l ittle r hombic-crested p lates. T his i s i n c ontrast t o t hose o f t he o ther A cipenseridae c onsidered. I n o ld s pecimens o f A cipenseridae i sol ated e ndochondral o ssifications a ppear ( Holmgren & S tensiH, 1 936: 4 38). A s t hese m iscellaneous b ones o f t he s kull a re o f l ittle i nterest f or t he i chthyo-archaeologist, I s hall n ot d evote a ny f urther a ttention t o t hem. B ones o f t he s houlder-girdle a nd p ectoral f in T he s houlder-girdle o f A cipenseridae i s f ormed b y t he f ollowing e lements: s upracleithrale, c leithrum, c laviculare, i nterclaviculare a nd p ostcleithrale. W ith t he e xception o f t hat o f t he i nterciaviculare, t he o verall s hape o f t he e lements o f t he s houlder-girdle i s f ixed. T he s upracleithrale, c leithrum a nd c laviculare s how s ome c lear d istinguishi ng m arks t hat m ake i dentification o f e xcavated r emains o f t hem q uite p ossible. T hey c an b e u sed f or t he e stimation o f m inimum n umber o f i ndividuals. Y et t hese e lements s how m orphological v ariations t o a c ertain e xtent. T hese a re r estricted t o l imited p arts o f t he b ones, h owever. B ecause o f t his, o nly m easurements t aken o f m ore o r l ess c omplete s pecimens o f t hem a re o f v alue f or t he e stimation o f t he t otal l ength/weight o f t he f ish.

2 0

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

T he p ectoral f in o f A cipenseridae i s f ormed b y r adialia o f w hich a f ew a re o ssified, b ony l epidotrichia a nd a l arge p ectoral s pine. O f t hese e lements o nly t he l ast-mentioned o ne i s o f i mportance f or t he i chthyoarchaeologist. C epkin a nd S okolov a scited b y C asteel ( 1976: 1 14-6) u sed t he s ingle r egression m ethod i n t heir s tudy o n t he r elation b etween b ody l ength a nd p ectoral s pine l ength o f A cipenser g ueldens taedti a nd o n t he r elation b etween b ody l ength a nd w idth o f t he a rticular h ead o f t he s pine o f t his s pecies. T he a uthors f ound t hat i n t he s econd c ase t he e rror i n t he e stimated l ength o f t he s pecies w as s ignificantly l ess t han i n t he f irst. T he s ame m ethod w as l ater u sed b y t hese a uthors i n t heir s tudy o f t he p ectoral s pine o f A cipenser r uthenus. R esorption o f b one f rom s keletal e lements I n h is e xtensive w ork o n t he f ishes o f t he U .S.S.R. a nd a djacent c ountries, B erg ( 1948: 5 2-3) s tates t he f ollowing a bout t he A cipenser idae: ' ventral b ony s cutes s ometimes d isappear i n o ld i ndividuals'. A bout t he b ony p lates o f t he b ody M aitland ( 1977: 7 4) s ays: ' these p lates b ecome s moother w ith a ge a nd i n s ome c ases d isappear a ltogether i n o ld s pecimens'. A l arge s ample o f s pecimens o f A cipenser s turio a nd t wo N orth-American s pecies, A cipenser o xyrhynchus a nd A cipenser f ulvesc ens, h ave b een t he s ubject o f a s tudy b y M agnin ( 1962). A bout t he l ast-mentioned s pecies t he a uthors s tates ( p. 5 1) t hat g rowth o f t he p lates e ventually s tops a nd i n o ld s pecimens e ven r esorption o f b one f rom t he p lates s eems t o t ake p lace. O n t he o ther h and A cipenser s turio a nd A cipenser o xyrhynchus k eep t heir p lates, w hich a ugment i n s ize a nd t hickness d uring l ife. F rom t he s ample o f b ody p lates o f b oth r ecent s pecimens o f H uso t hat I s tudied, i t i s c lear t hat r esorption o f b one h ad t aken p lace. T he v entral p lates h ave b ecome s mooth a nd p aper-thin. T heir s hape i s i n n o w ay r eminiscent o f t hat o f a n ormal A cipenserid v entral p late. A lthough t o a l esser e xtent, r esorption o f b one h ad a lso t aken p lace f rom t he l ateral a nd d orsal p lates. H owever t his p rocess i s n ot l imited t o b ody p lates, b ut h appened a lso i n b ones o f t he c ranial r oof, g illc over a nd s houlder-girdle. T he o ldest p arts o f t hese b ones a re m ost a ffected b y r esorption. B one r esorption w as m ost o bvious i n t he l argest s pecimen 9 . I n s ome b ones, t he b one m aterial h as c ompletely d issolved l ocally, r esulting i n h oles; F igure 5 a nd 6 s how t he e ffect o f b one r esorption o n t he c laviculae a nd c leithra o f b oth s pecimens. A lthough t he a mount

o f m aterial o f H uso s tudied

i s o nly

s mall,

i t

c learly d emonstrated t hat t he b ody p lates a nd t he b ones o f t he c ranial r oof, g ill c over a nd s houlder-girdle d issolve i n t he l iving a nimal. I n e xcavations n o r emains o f t hese b ones a re t o b e f ound t hat c ome f rom t he l arger i ndividuals. B ony e lements o f t he j aws, m outh c avity a nd b ranchial a rches,

h yomandibulare,

c eratohyale,

p ectoral s pines a nd r ays

a nd d orsal f uicral p lates o f t he t ail a re p robably n ot a ffected b y r esorption o f b one. E xcept f or t he f ragile b ranchialia, r emains o f t hese e lements o f H uso s eem t o h ave t he g reatest c hance o f b eing f ound i n e xcavations.

2 1

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

B esides t hree c omplete s keletons o f A cipenser g ueldenstaedti I a lso a cquired s mall s amples o f b ody p lates f rom a nother s even s pecimens o f t his s pecies. O nly i n t he d orsal p lates o f o ne o f t hem , a m ature f emale i ndividual w ith a t otal l ength o f 1 38 c m, h ad r esorption o f b one t aken p lace ( Figure 7 ). H owever t he t races o f t his r esorption a re r estricted t o a l imited a rea. T his i s i n c ontrast t o t hose o bserved i n H uso. I n m y o pinion w e a re d ealing h ere w ith a nother t ype o f r esorpt ion.

T HE S TURGEON R EMAINS F ROM P ADINA F rom t he e xcavated m aterial a t otal n umber o f 1 02 c onsiderably d amaged b ones w ere r ecognized a s o riginating f rom A cipenseridae. O f t hese r emains 7 4 c ould b e i dentified t o s keletal e lement a nd s ubseq uently t o s pecies l evel. A nother f ifteen r emains c ould o nly b e i dentif ied t o s keletal e lement. T hey o riginated f rom e ither A cipenser s téll atus, A cipenser g ueldenstaedti o r A cipenser n udiventris. T able 1 s hows t he n umber o f s keletal e lements f or e ach i dentified s pecies o r g roup o f s pecies. A cipenser s tellatus,

c ould

A cipenser g ueldenstaedti a nd A cipenser n udiventris

T he e xcavated r emains o f s ix s uboperculae o f t he g enus A cipenser n ot b e i dentified t o s pecies l evel. T hey r esemble t he s uboper-

c ulae o f A cipenser s tellatus a nd A cipenser g ueldenstaedti. T he s hape o f t he s uboperculare o f A cipenser n udiventris i s u nknown t o m e d ue t o t he l ack o f a r eference s pecimen. T he t hickness o f b one o f t hese r emains i ndicates t hat t hey o riginate f rom i ndividuals w ith a n e stimated l ength o f 1 20 t o 1 50 c m . O n a ccount o f t his, t hese r emains c annot p ossibly b e a scribed t o A cipenser r uthenus. T his i s n ot t he c ase w ith A cipenser s turio. I t s eems h owever m ost u nlikely t hat t his s pecies w as c aught ( see d iscussion). F or t hese r easons t he e xcavated r emains o f t he s ubo perculae a re m entioned i n T able 1 a s A cipenser s tellatus/Acipenser g ueldenstaedti/Acipenser n udiventris. S ome r emains o f p arasphenoidea a nd p ectoral s pines a nd o ne c làvic ula o f t he g enus A cipenser w ere f ragmented i n s uch w ay t hat t hey c ould n ot b e i dentified t o s pecies l evel e ither. F rom t he t hickness o f b one i t i s c lear t hat t hey a lso b elonged t o t he g roup A cipenser s tellatus/ A cipenser gueldenstaedti/Acipenser n udiventris. E ight

f ragments

w ere

i dentified

a s

b elonging

t o

A cipenser

s tel-

l atus. S even o f t hese b ones ( an e longate p ostrostrale, a s upratempor ale-intertemporale a nd f ive i nfraorbitalia) c ome f rom t he c ranial r oof. T he d orsal p late t hat w as f ound h as a n o pisthocentrically p laced s pine. T his i ndicates t hat t he p late c an o nly b elong t o A cipenser s tellatus, A cipenser n udiventris o r A cipenser r uthenus. O n a ccount o f i ts s ize ( 32.9 m m) a nd t he f act t hat i t s tongly r esembles o ne o f t he d orsal p lates ( no. 1 0) o f t he r eference s pecimen, i t s eems j ustifiable t o a scribe t his p late t o A cipenser s tellatus.

2 2

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R EC tNT A CIPENSERIDAE

E ight f ragments w ere i dentified a s b elonging t o A cipenser g ueldens taedti. T wo o f t hese b ones ( a p arietale a nd a n i nfraorbitale) c ome f rom t he c ranial r oof. O ne f ragment o f a c lavicui: a nd f ive p ectoral s pines c ome f rom t he a nterior z onoske e ton. O nly o ne s pecimen o f t hese s pines h as a c omplete a rticular h ead w hich c ould b e m easured ( 26.8 m m). U sing t he g raph o f C epkin a nd S okolov ( Casteel, 1 976: F igure 6 3B) t he b ody l ength o f t his R ussian s turgeon w as e stimated t o h ave m easured a bout 1 00cm. H uso h uso E lements f rom t he j aws a nd m outh c avity o f H uso d iffer m arkedly i n s hape f rom t hose o f t he g enus A cipenser. T he o uter s urface o f e lements f rom t he c ranial r oof, g ill c over, s houlder-girdle a nd p lates o f H uso i s m ore o r l ess s mooth. T his i s i n c trast t o t he o ther s pecies s tudied i n w hich t he o uter s urface o f th se e lement c oncentric a nd r adial b one r idges. B ecause o f t hese o f H uso c an e asily b e i dentified a s s uch.

s how m ore o r l ess f eatures, r emains

B ones o f H uso w ere t he m ost a bundant ( 58 f ragments) a mong t he s turgeon r emains f rom P adina. W ith t he e xception o f two h on s f rom t he g ill c over ( a s uboperculare a nd a b r rrhioste aIe), iur h yomaidibul ares a nd t wo p ectoral s pines, a ll o ther r emains ( 50 f ragments) o rig inate f rom t he j aws a nd m outh c avity. N either r emains o f t he c ranial r oof a nd s houlder-girdle n or b ody p lates c ould b e i dentified. I t i s m ost l ikely t hat t hese h ave b ecome u nidentifiable o r h ave e ven d isapp eared c ompletely a s a r esult o f r esorption o f b one i n t he l iving a nimal. D entales a re t he m ost f requently o ccurring b ones o f H uso ( Figure 8 ). A ccording t o t he m ethod f ollowed b , ' L epiksaar & H einrich ( 1977) a f actor w as c alculated f or t he t otal l e i ìg h o f t he f ish, b ased o n t he g reatest w idth o f i ts d entale. U sing t his f actor, t he t otal l ength o f t he l argest H uso w as e stimated s mallest s pecimen m easured c . 1 75 c m.

t o

1

e m easured

5 r n .

T he

D ISCUSSION T hree a nadromous s pecies o f A cipenseridae t he c atchment a rea o f t he D anube n ear t he I ron

o ccirred r egularly i n . te. T hese a re b eluga

( Huso h uso), s tellate s turgeOn ( Acipenser s tellatus) a nd R ussian s turg eon ( Acipenser g ueldenstaedti). B oth b eluga, s tellate s turgeon a nd R ussian s turgeon h ave t wo s easonal f orms: a s pring f orm w hich a scends t he r iver i n s pring a nd s pawns i n s pring a nd e arly s ummer o f t he s ame y ear, a nd a w inter f orm w hich a scends t he D anube i n l ate s ummer a nd a utumn a nd s pawns t he f ollowing y ear, r l aving s pent t he w inter i n t he r iver. A nother a nadromous s pecies, t he s turgeon ( Acipenser s turio) s eemed t o b e a r are v agrant h ere ( see b elow . A ccording t o A ntipa a s c ited b y L adiges & V ogt ( 1965: 5 7-8) a nother s pecies, t he s hip s turgeon ( Acipenser n udiventris) o ccurred i n t he D anube. H ere i t w as a p urely f resh-water s pecies w hich h ardly e ver w ent i nto t he B lack S ea. T he l ast s pecimen o f A cipenser n udiventris f rom t he Y ugoslavian c atchment a rea o f t he D anube, w as c aught o n t he f irst o f J uly 1 969 i n t he I ron G ate c lose t o t he v illage o f D avidovac ( Djoni , 1 985: 3 1). T he s ixth s tur 2 3

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

g eon s pecies f rom t he D anube i s t he s terlet ( Acipenser r uthenus). I t i s a f reshwater s pecies w hich s till o ccurs i n t he a rea c oncerned. B esides t hese s pecies B erg ( 1948: 6 1, 7 5) a lso m entions t he o ccurrence o f t he s turgeon h ybrids A cipenser r uthenus x A cipenser s tellatus, H uso h uso x A cipenser s tellatus a nd H uso h uso x A cipenser g ueldenstaedti i n t he c atchment a rea o f t he D anube. F rom t he s tudy o f t he s turgeon r emains f rom P adina i t i s e stab lished t hat a t l east R ussian s turgeon, s tellate s turgeon a nd b eluga a re r epresented. B esides t he l ast-mentioned s pecies, C lason ( 1980: 1 67) m entions h owever t wo o ther A cipenseridae, n amely A cipenser s turio a nd A cipenser r uthenus. I d id n ot f ind a ny r emains o f s terlet a mong t he P adina m aterial. H owever i t t urns o ut t hat C lason s aw t hese r emains d uring h er w ork o n t he P adina m aterial a t t he N ational M useum i n B elgrade ( Clason, p ers. c omm.). W ith r egard t o t he o ccurrence o f t he d ifferent s pecies o f A cipens eridae i n t he D anube, C lason r efers t o T erofal ( 1971). A bout A cipenser s turio t his a uthor s ays ( p. 1 54) t hat d uring t he l ast f ifty y ears o nly a f ew s pecimens w ere o bserved i n f ront o f t he m outh o f t he D anube. B erg ( 1948: 9 3) m entions t he o ccurrence o f A cipenser s turio i n t he d elta o f t his r iver. A ntipa a s c ited b y D uncker ( 1960: 6 3) s aid t hat t he s pecies h ardly e ver a scends t he D anube, b ut s pawns o n s and b anks i n f ront o f t he d elta. M agnin ( 1962: F igure 3 ) s hows a d istribution m ap o f A cipens er s turio i ndicating t he e xtreme l imits o f i ts s pawning g rounds. T his m ap s hows t hat t he s pecies e nters t he D anube. U nfortunately t he e xtreme l imits o f i ts s pawning g rounds u p t he D anube a re n ot g iven. A ccording t o R isti ( 1977: 5 0) A cipenser s lavian p art o f t he D anube.

s turio

h as

b ecome

r arer

i n

t he

Y ugo-

F rom t hese o bscure s ources o f i nformation t he o ccurrence o f A cip enser s turio c annot b e e xcluded i n t he c atchment a rea o f t he D anube n ear P adina. C lason ( 1980: 1 67) s tates t hat r emains o f A cipenser s turio w ere f ound i n P adina. T his s tatement i s d ue t o a m isunderstanding b et ween C lason a nd m e. I n 1 978 I p rovisionally i dentified a lmost a ll t he A cipenserid r emains f rom P adina a s b ones b elonging t o a s teur ( sturg eon), b ut i ntended r ather t o s ay s teurachtig ( sturgeon-like). H owever, s teur i s t he D utch v ernacular n ame f or A cipenser s turio, a nd c onseq uently t he b ones w ere m entioned b y C lason i n h er c ommentary a s b elongi ng t o A cipenser s turio. T his s pecies i s n ot r epresented a mongst t he A cipenserid r emains f rom P adina. B ody p lates o f m ature A cipenser s turio w hich a re m uch m ore s olid t han t hose o f t he i dentified s pecies, w ould c ertainly n ot h ave b een o verlooked i f t hey h ad b een p resent a t t he s ite. A t t he e nd o f t he a rticle C lason ( 1980: 1 72) c ompares t he f ish s pecies f rom P adina w ith t hose f ound i n S tar evo a nd s tates: ' The a bs ence o f t he l arge s turgeons i n S tar evo i s a n i mportant d ifference b etween S tar evo a nd P adina'. H owever t his c onclusion s tands i n n eed o f r eadjustment f or C lason d id n ot s tudy t he b ones f ound d uring t he r econn oitring e xcavation o n t he S tar evo s ite i n 1 931. I n a p reliminary r eport o n t his e xcavation, F ewkes e t a l. ( 1933: 4 8) m ention t he f ind o f s turgeon r emains. A s f ar a s I k now, n o f inal r eport o n t he f aunal m ate2 4

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

r ial o f t his e xcavation h as a ppeared a nd t hus w e d o n ot k now f rom w hich A cipenseridae t hese b ones c ame.

A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS F or t he r ealization o f t his a rticle I a m g rateful i n t he f irst p lace t o M rs. M irjana S tevanovid ( San F rancisco, U .S.A.; f ormerly B elgrado, Y ugoslavia) w ho i nitiated m y c ontact w ith M r. M ilo D joni c ( Ribarsko G azdinstvo B eograd, Y ugoslavia). T hrough t his c ontact M essrs. V lasta K ostadinovi6 a nd S ini a S tamenkovi ( Ribarsko G azdinstvo K ladovo, Y ugoslavia) p rovided m e w ith t he r ecent s turgeon m aterial. I o we t hese p ersons m any t hanks. I a m f urthermore e ndebted t o D r. W ietske P rummel ( B.A.I., G roningen) f or c ritically r eading t he t ext a nd t o M rs. S heila M . v an G elder-Ottway f or t he c orrection o f m y i mperfect E nglish.

N OTES 1 ) T he s ettlement c an b e r oughly d ated t o t he e nd o f t he s econd h alf o f t he s ixth m illennium a nd t he f irst h alf o f t he f ifth m illennium B C. 2 ) T he s pecimens w ere c aught i n S eptember 1 984 b y p rofessional f isherm en i n t he D anube n ear t he t own o f K iadovo ( Yugoslavia). I n t he s ummer o f 1 985 a s econd h ydroelectricity p ower s tation ( Djerdap I I) w hich i s s ituated c lose t o t he Y ugoslavian-Bulgarian b order, w as p ut i nto u se. T his m eans t hat t he a nadromous s turgeons a re n owadays a bsent f rom t he Y ugoslavian c atchment a rea o f t he D anube. 3 ) I n o rder t o e lucidate h omologies b etween t he s keletal e lements o f b oth r ecent a nd f ossil f ishes, t he p ublications o n s turgeon s keletons m ainly d eal w ith t he c omparative a natomy a nd e mbryology o f t he s ensory l ine s ystem a nd r elated s kull b ones. 4 ) A s f ar a s I k now n o r ecent s tudy o n t he s keleton o f A cipenseridae h as b een p ublished. T he m ost r ecent p ublication I h ave f ound i s t hat o f M agnin ( 1962). W ith r egard t o s keletal e lements t his a uthor o nly s tud ied t he n umber o f p lates o f t he t runk i n A cipenser s turio, A cipenser o xyrhynchus a nd A cipenser f ulvescens. F or a d escription o f t he s kull b ones h e r efers t o D evillers ( 1958). T his a uthor g ives a s ummary o f t he s tudies o f t he s turgeon s kull. I n t he s ame p ublication B ertin ( 1958) a nd L ehman ( 1958) a lso s ummarize t hese s tudies. I n t heir i llustrations t hese t hree a uthors r efer e ither t o t he p ublications o f G oodrich ( 1909), H olmgren & S tensi3 ( 1936) o r J arvik ( 1948). B erg ( 1958) r efers t o t hese p ublications t oo. I n h is e xtensive w ork o n f ish s kulls, G regory ( 1933: 1 17-23) d oes n ot n ame a ll t he e lements o f t he s turgeon s kull. 5 ) A cipenseridae h ave f ive t o s even s mall i rregularly s haped p lates i n t he r ostral p art o f t he c heek. T hese p lates a re t hought t o b e b ones o f t he p raeoperculare ( Holmgren & S tensi3, 1 936: 4 43). 6 ) S ewertzoff ( 1926:

4 60-1) n ames t his b ranchiostegale 2 5

' suboperculum '.

B RINKHUIZEN:

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

7 ) A cipenser g ueldenstaedti s ometimes h as o n t he m edial s ide o f t he d entale a s mall p raearticulare ( Holmgren & S tensiB, 1 936: 4 44). I f ound t his b one i n o ne s pecimen o f t his s pecies a nd i n b oth h eads o f H uso. I n t he l atter t hese e lements a re r ather l arge. 8 ) T he g ill r akers o f A cipenseridae a re a lso b ony. 9 ) O ne h ead s tudied b elonged t o a m ature f emale H uso w ith a t otal l ength o f 2 .87 m a nd a t otal w eight o f 1 57.5 k g. T he o ther o ne b elonged t o a m ature m ale H uso w ith a t otal l ength o f 2 .37 m a nd a t otal w eight o f 7 3.5 k g.

R EFERENCES

B erg, L .S. ( 1948). F reshwater F ishes o f t he U .S.S.R. a nd A djacent C ountries, V ol. I . M oskva/Leningrad ( Translation J erusalem 1 962). B erg, L .S. ( 1958). u nd F ische. B erlin.

S ystem

d er

r ecenten u nd

f ossilen

F ischartigen

B ertin, L . ( 1958). S uper ordre d es C hondrostéens. F ormes a ctuell es. I n: P . G rass ( ed.), T rait d e Z oologie. A gnathes e t P oissons, T ome X III, F asc. I II. P aris, pp. 2 165-2172. C asteel,

R .W .

( 1976).

F ish r emains i n a rchaeology a nd p aleo-envi-

r onmental s tudies. L ondon/New Y ork/San F rancisco. C lason, A .T. ( 1980). P adina a nd P alaeohistoria 2 2, pp. 1 41-173.

T rait p p.

S tar evo:

g ame,

f ish a nd

c attle.

D evillers, C . ( 1958). L e c rane d es p oissons. I n: P . G rass d e Z oologie. A gnathes e t P oissons, T ome X III, F asc. I .

( ed.), P aris,

5 51-687. D joni , M .

( 1985).

D unayski a lasi.

P rofesionalni r ibolov.

B eograd.

D riesch, A . v on d en ( 1982). F ischreste a us d er s lawisch-deutschen F t lrstenburg a uf d em W einberg i n H itzacker ( Elbe). N eue A usgrabungen u nd F orschungen i n N iedersachsen 1 5,

p p.

3 95-423.

D uncker, C . ( 1960). D ie F ische d er N ordmark. V erhandlungen d es N aturwissenschaftlichen V ereins i n S upplement. H amburg.

A bhandlungen u nd H amburg, N .F. 3 ,

F ewkes, V .J., H . G oldman & R .W. E hrich ( 1933). E xcavations a t S tar evo, Y ugoslavia, S easons 1 931 a nd 1 932. A p reliminary r eport. B ulletin A merican S chool o f P rehistoric R esearch 9 , pp. 3 3-54. G regory, W .K. ( 1933). F ish s kulls: n atural m echanisms. T ransactions o f S ociety. N ew s eries,

V ol.

2 3,

p p.

7 5-481. 2 6

a s tudy o f t he e volution o f t he A merican P hilosophical

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G oodrich, F ishes. I n: R . p p.

F EATURES O N R ECENT A CIPENSERIDAE

E .S. ( 1909). V ertebrata C raniata I . C yclostomes a nd L ankester ( ed.) A T reatise o n Z oology, V ol. I X. L ondon,

1 -518.

H allstr8m, A . ( 1979). D ie F ischknochen. I n: J . B oessneck, A . v on d en D riesch & L . S tenberger ( eds.), E ketorp: B efestigung u nd S iedlung a uf O land/Sweden. D ie F auna. S tockholm , pp. 4 22-492. H einrich, D . ( 1985). D ie F ischreste a us d er f rlhgeschichtlichen M arschensiedlung b eim E lisenhof i n E iderstedt. S chriften a us d er A rchgo logisch-Zoologischen A rbeitsgruppe S chleswig-Kiel ( Occasional p ublic ation n o.

9 ).Kiel.

H olmgren, N . & E . S tensi8 ( 1936). K ranium u nd V isceralskelett d er A kranier, C yclostomen u nd F ische. I n: L . B olk, E . G 3ppert, E . K allius & W . L ubosch ( eds.), H andbuch d er v ergleichenden A natomie d er W irbelt iere,

V ol.

I V. B erlin/Wien,

p p.

2 33-500.

J arvik, E . ( 1948). O n t he M orphology a nd T axonomy o f t he M iddle D evonian O steolepid F ishes o f S cotland. K ungliga S venska V etenskapsa kademiens H andlingar, S erie I II, V ol. 2 5, pp. 1 -301. L adiges, b urg/Berlin.

W .

& D .

V ogt

( 1965).

D ie S lsswasserfische E uropas.

H am-

L ehman, J .-P. ( 1958). Gn ralit s e t d volution. I n: P . G rass ( ed.), T rait4 d e Z oologie. A gnates e t P oissons, T ome X III, F asc. I II. P aris,

p p.

2 070-2129.

L epiksaar,

J .

& D .

H einrich

( 1977).

U ntersuchungen a n F ischresten

a us d er f rlhmittelalterlichen S iedlung H aithabu A usgrabungen i n H aithabu, 1 0). N eumlnster.

( =

B erichte

[ I ber

d ie

M agnin, E . ( 1962). R echerches s ur l a s ystématique e t l a b iologie d es A cipenserides: A cipenser s turio L ., A cipenser o xyrhynchus M itchill e t A cipenser f ulvescens b iologie A ppliquée 9 , pp. M aitland,

P .S.

R af. A nnales 9 -242.

( 1977).

d e

F reshwater

l a

S tation

F ishes

o f

C entrale

B ritain

a nd

d 'Hydro-

E urope.

L ondon/New Y ork/Sydney/Toronto. P arker, W .K. ( 1882). O n t he S tructure a nd D evelopment o f t he S kull i n S turgeons ( Acipenser r uthenus a nd A . s turio). P hilosophical T ransact ions o f t he R oyal S ociety o f L ondon 1 73, R isti , M .

( 1977).

p p.

1. 3 9-185.

R ibe i r ibolov u s latkim v odama.

B eograd.

S ewertzoff, A .N. ( 1926). S tudies o n t he b ony s kull Q uarterly J ournal o f M icroscopical S cience 7 0, N ew s eries,

o f p p.

F ishes. 4 51-540.

T erofal, F . ( 1971). K wastsnoeken, s teuren e n v erwanten. I n: B . G rzimek e t a l. ( eds.), H et l even d er d ieren I V, V issen I , pp. 1 48-162.

2 7

T able 1 . T he n umber o f s keletal e lements f or e ach i dentified s pecies o r g roup o f s pecies. A cipenser s tellatus/ A . U npaired b ones P araspheno i d P aired b ones S uboperculare C lavicula P ectoral s pine

u eldenstaedti/ A .

s in.

n udiventris

4 d ext.

-

-

s ide u nknown 6 4

A cipenser s tellatus P aired b ones I nfraorbitale S upratemporalei ntertemporale S erial b ones P ostrostrale D orsal p late

s in. 3

d ext. 2

1 1 1

A cipenser g ueldenstaedti P aired b ones P arietale I nfraorbitale C lavicula P ectoral s pine

s in .

d ext. 1

-

1 1 4

-

1

H uso h uso U npaired b ones P arasphenoid

3

P aired b ones D entale P raemaxillom axillare E ntopterygoid H yomandibulare P raearticulare Q uadratojugale S uboperculare B ranchiostegale P ectoral s pine

s in . 7

d ext. 1 2

8 5 2 2

8 3 2 1 1 1 1 1

-

-

-

-

A cipenser s p./ H uso h uso N ot i dentifiable t o s keletal e lement

2 8

s ide u nknown

1 3

F igure 1 : L ateral v iew 1 936).

S lightly

o f t he

s implified.

s kull o f

T he

A cipenser s turio

n ames b etween

( after H olmgren

& S tensiö,

b rackets r efer t o t he t erminology u sed

e ither b y G oodrich ( 1909), S ewertzoff ( 1926) o r G regory ( 1933). A bbrevations: f r, f rontale; p raeoperculare; p tr,

i orb,

i nfraorbitale

p ostrostralia ( rostralia

o perculum + i nteroperculum);

( suborbitale);

d ors.); L b,

s d, s upracleithrale; s op,

2 9

‚

p arietale; P OP ,

r adii b ranchiostegii ( sub-

s uboperculare ( operculum).

b

a

p orb s orb-dsph

F igure 2 : D orsal v iew o f t he

c ranial r oof

o f A cipenser

s turio ( after

J arvik,

1 948).

S lightly s implified. T he n ames b etween b rackets r efer t o t he t erminology u sed e ither b y G oodrich ( 1909),

S ewertzoff ( 1926),

G regory ( 1933),

H olmgren &

S tensiö ( 1936), B erg

( 1958), D evillers ( 1958), L ehman ( 1958) o r M agnin ( 1962). a .) T he n ormal p osition o f t he d ermal b ones. b .) W ith s everal o f t he a dditional b ones i ncluded. Abbrevations: e xt.l., e xtrascapulare l aterale ( supratemporale, t abulare, t abulare l ater ale); e xt.m ., e xtrascapulare t emporale

m ediale);

p oc,

m ediale

( dermosupraoccipitale,

d ermosphenoticu z n, d ermosphenoticum, p ostfrontale); p t, o rbitale

1

s upraoccipitale,

s upra -

p ostoccipitale ( nuchale); p orb, p ostorbitale ( postorbitale-

( praefrontale); s orb-dsph,

p osttemporale;

s orb

1 , s upra-

s upraorbitale-dennosphenoticum ( supraorbitale);

s tit, s upratemporale-intertemporale ( squamosum, d er i nopteroticun, p teroticu i n).

F or e xplanation o f o ther a bbrevations s ee F igure 1 .

3 0

F igure 3 : D orsal v iew o f t he c ranial r oof p ound f ronto-parietale o n t he l eftside.

F igure 4 :

o f A cipenser

g ueldenstaedti s howing

a c or n-

S cale i n c m.

L ateral v iew o f t he s uboperculae d ext.

o f b oth r ecent s pecimens o f

J ±

s howing t he m orphological v ariation b etween t hese b ones. T he s uboperculare o n t he r ight s ide o riginates f rom t he l arger i ndividual.

S cale i n c m.

3 1

F igure 5 : L ateral v iew o f t he c leithra s in ,

o f b oth r ecent s pecimens o f 1 l uso h uso s howing

t he e ffect o f b one r esorption. T he c leithru z n o n t he l eft s ide o riginates f rom t he l arger i ndividual.

S cale i n c m.

I

F igure 6 :

L ateral v iew

o f t he

c laviculae s in,

I

o f b oth r ecent s pecimens o f H uso h uso

s howing t he e ffect o f b one r esorption . T he c lavicula o n t he t he l arger i ndividual.

F igure 7 :

l eft s ide

o riginates f rom

S cale i n c m .

D orso-lateral v iew

o f t wo

d orsal p lates

o f a r ecent s pecimen o f A cipenser

g ueldenstaedti s howing t races o f r esorption r estricted t o a l imited a rea .

3 2

S cale i n c m.

F igure 8 : D orso-medial v iew o f t wo d entales d ext. t he r ecent i n P adina.

i ndividual w ith

I t o riginated f rom a n i ndividual w hose

m easured 5 m .

o f H uso

a t otal l ength o f 2 .87 m .

S cale i n c m .

3 3

h uso. A bove:

B elow:

t he d entale o f

t he l argest d entale f ound

t otal l ength

w as e stimated

t o h ave

S ITE

F ORMATION

A ND

A RCHAEOLOGICAL

F ISH

R EMAINS.

A N

E THNOHISTORICAL

E XAMPLE F ROM T HE N ORTHERN I SLES, S COTLAND.

S arah M . C olley D epartment o f P rehistory R esearch S chool o f P acific S tudies A ustralian N ational U niversity P .O. B ox 4 C anberra, A CT 2 601 A ustralia K eywords: O RKNEY, P OST-MEDIEVAL, H ISTORY, F ISHING, S ITE-FORMATION,

A RCHAEOZOOLOGY, F ISH R UBBISH D ISPOSAL.

R EMAINS,

E THNO-

I NTRODUCTION I t c annot a lways b e a ssumed t hat t he f ish r emains f ound o n a s ite, o r t he d eath a ssemblage r econstructed f rom t hese, r epresent t he t otal e xtent o f f ishing a ctivity c arried o ut. F ish m ay h ave b een t aken f rom t he s ea b y m embers o f t he p rehistoric c ommunity, b ut t heir r emains m ay n ot h ave b een d eposited o n t he s ite u nder a rchaeological i nvestigation. D uring t he r ecent h istorical p eriod i n t he N orthern I sles ( Orkney a nd S hetland) t he w ay f ishing w as o rganised a nd t he d ifferent t ypes o f p rocessing a nd b utchery m ethods e mployed m eant t hat f ish r emains w ere d eposited i n a n umber o f d ifferent l ocations a nd t hat s ome f ish w ere l ost f rom t he a rchaeological r ecord a ltogether. E thnohistorical

d escriptions

o f f ishing i n t he N orthern I sles a re

u seful f or g aining a b etter u nderstanding o f t he p ossible c osts, r isks a nd b enefits a ssociated w ith p articular f ishing s trategies ( Colley, 1 983a).

A t

t he

s ame

t ime

s uch

a ccounts

p rovide d ata a bout

t he w ay

i n

w hich f ish w ere p rocessed a nd d isposed o f. T his p aper w ill d escribe h uman f actors l ikely t o h ave c ontributed t o v ariability i n f ish b one a ssemblages i n t he a rchaeological r ecord o f 1 7th to 1 9th c entury O rkney a nd S hetland. T he d escription i s b ased o n e thnohistorical a ccounts a nd r elies i n p articular o n t he b ook p ublished b y F enton ( 1978) w hich c ontains a w ealth o f d etail a bout f ishing, f arming a nd d omestic a ctivities i n t he N orthern I sles. O ther s ources d escribing t he N orthern I sles h ave a lso b een u sed.

a re

T he e xtent t o w hich e thnohistorical a ccounts o f t he N orthern I sles u seful f or u nderstanding f ishing i n e arlier -p eriods i n t he s ame

a rea w ill b e d iscussed. S PECIALISED F ISHING S ITES A ND L ARGE S CALE T RADE L arge s cale c ommercial f isheries i n t he N orthern I sles i nvolved f ish b eing l anded a t s pecialised s ites. F or e xample, h andlining f or l arge c od ( Gadus m orhua) a nd l ing ( Molva m olva) w as c arried o ut f rom s mall b oats a s a n e xtension o f a t raditional d omesetic f ishery ( Colley, 1 983b: 1 23-6). T he c atch w as l anded a t m erchant's b ooths w here i t w as t raded b y t he f ishermen f or o ther g oods i mported i nto t he i slands. A ll p rocessing w as c arried o ut a t t hese b ooths. 3 4

C OLLEY:

S ITE F ORMATION A ND A RCHAEOLOGICAL F ISH R EMAINS

A s imilar s ituation p revailed i n t he 1 8th c entury ' haaf'fishing i n S hetland. T his w as c arried o ut f rom s lightly l arger b oats a nd i nvolved t he u se o f m ultiple-hooked l ong l ines. T he m en o f t he c ommunity l ived a t s pecial f ishing s tations f or t he s ummer m onths. L arge c od, l ing, s aithe ( Pollachius v irens) a nd t orsk ( Brosme b rosme) w ere l anded a nd p rocessed a t t hese s pecial l ocations. O nly f ish o f n o c ommercial v alue f ound t heir w ay f rom t hese f ishing s tations t o t he h omes o f t he o rdinary p eople. W omen v isiting t heir m enfolk w ould c arry a f ew f ish b ack w ith t hem t o t he d omestic d wellings, a s w ell a s t aking a way a ny s pare h eads, l ivers, r oes a nd b ackbones ( Fenton, 1 978: 5 81). I f f ishing o rganised i n t his w ay w ere t o b e r ecognisable i n t he a rchaeological r ecord i t w ould b e n ecessary t o e xcavate b oth t he s ite o f t he f ishing s tation o r t he m erchant's b ooth ( at w hich t he m ajority o f t he f ish r emains w ould b e d eposited) a s w ell a s t he d omestic d wellings o f t he f ishermen.

' OFF-SITE' D EPOSITION I n 1 7th t o 1 9th c entury O rkney a nd S hetland l arge q uantities o f p rocessed f ish w ere e xported f rom t he i slands. S ome f ish r emains e ffectively n ever r eached t he a rchaeological c ontext. F or e xample, i n o rder t o s ave t ime a nd c reate m ore s pace i n t he b oats d uring l arge s cale f ishing o perations, f ish w ere o ften g utted a nd b eheaded a t s ea a nd t he w aste t hrown o verboard. T he u sual m ethod o f f illeting l arge f ish o f t he c od f amily a ccording t o F enton ( 1978: 5 73, 5 82) w as t o r emove p art o f t he b ackbone n earest t o t he h ead a nd t o l eave t he ' tail' w ith t he f lesh t o p rovide r igidity. T he f ish w ere s altdried. T herefore,

i f h eads w ere r emoved a t s ea,

a nd

t he c audal v ertebrae

w ere e xported t ogether w ith t he f illets, o nly t he p recaudal a nd t horacic v ertebrae d iscarded a t t he f ishing s tations w ould h ave a ny c hance o f b ecoming i ncorporated i nto t he a rchaeological r ecord o f t he a rea. I n a ddition, o nly v ery f ew b ones f rom t his t ype o f f ishing a ctivity w ould b e t aken t o d omestic d welling s ites. C audal v ertebrae a nd o ther b ones f ound o n s ome a rchaeological s ites o n t he o ther h and, m ay b e i ndicative o f i mported s alt f ish. T he a uthor h as s een w hat a re p robably s alt f ish r ecently e xcavated f rom t he T udor w arship ' Mary R ose' ( Ian O xley & J ennie C oy, p ers. c omm.). T he b ones a re a ll l arge c od ( Gadus m orhua) a nd a re r epresented b y c audal v ertebrae, a v ery f ew o f t he l ast p recaudal v ertebrae w ith d istinctive o blique m edio-lateral c hop m arks t hrough t hem , s pines a nd f in r ays, a nd a f ew b ones s ituated a t t he v ery b ack o f t he s kull ( cleithra, s upraclav icles, p ost-temporals). S imilar c utmarks o n p recaudal v ertebrae w ere n oticed b y W ilkinson ( 1979) o n f ish r emains f rom p ost-medieval l ayers a t E xeter s uggesting i mported ' split f ish'. O ther f ishing a ctivity r ecorded e thnohistorically i n t he N orthern I sles r esulted i n t he d eposition o f f ish r emains w here t hey w ould b e u nlikely t o b e r ecorded a rchaeologically. S aithe a nd h addock ( Melanog rammus a eglefinus) w ere t he m ain s pecies u sed f or b ait i n t he c omm ercial f isheries a nd o ther t ypes o f f ish w ere o ccasionally t aken f or 3 5

C OLLEY:

S ITE F ORMATION A ND A RCHAEOLOGICAL F ISH R EMAINS

t his p urpose, f or e xample e el ( An gu illa a nguilla), h erring ( Clupea h arengus), a nd m ackerel ( Scomber s combrus). W hile s ome o f t his f ish w as p repared o n l and, u sually a t f ishing s tations, a nd m ight l eave s ome t race, m ost o f t he b ones w ould h ave b een l ost i nto t he s ea. S ome f ish a re d escribed a s h aving b een d iscarded o r p rocessed a long t he s hore a nd e lsewhere. B asking s harks ( Cetorhinus m aximus) w ere s ometimes d riven a shore b y l arge n umbers o f p eople. T hese h uge f ish, w hich c an r each 7 m i n l ength, w ere t oo b ig t o m ove f rom w here t hey w ere k illed. O ne d iscription t ells h ow t he l iver o f a b asking s hark f illed a s mall b oat ( Low , 1 813: 1 72). A t l east s ome p rocessing a nd b utchery w as c arried o ut o n t he s hore. I t s eems l ikely t hat e ven i f b asking s harks w ere u sed, n o t race o f t heir r emains w ould n ecessarily b e f ound i n d omestic d wellings. O ccasionally l arge n umbers o f s illocks ( young s aithe) w ere t aken b y s eine n et d uring c ommunal f ishing i n s hallow s andy b ays. I n t his c ase t he f ish w ere p iled u p a long t he s hore w aiting f or b uyers. S o m any f ish w ere t aken o n t hese o ccasions t hat m any w ere c arted a way a nd t ipped s traight o nto t he f ields a s m anure ( Cutting, 1 955: 1 71). F ish d eposited ' off-site' i n t hese v arious w ays a re u nlikely t o b e r ecovered i n a rchaeological c ontexts. I t i s v ery l ikely t hat s imilar m ethods o f d isposal o ccurred i n e arlier p eriods.

D OMESTIC D WELLING S ITES

-

F ISH P ROCESSING A ND T RADE

D omestic f isheries w ere c arried o ut t o p rovide f or i mmediate f ood n eeds. L arge n umbers o f s ome s pecies w ere d ried a nd s tored f or l ater c onsumption. S ome d ried f ish w as t raded a mong n eighbours a nd o utside t he a rea t o p ay r ent, t ogether w ith o il p repared f rom t he f ish l ivers. L arge n umbers o f y oung s aithe w ere t aken i n l ate-autumn a nd e arly-wint er f rom t he s hore u sing a h andline c alled a ' piltockwand' o r a r ound ' poke n et' ( Fenton, 1 978: 5 33). S imilar f ishing g ear w as a lso u sed f rom s mall b oats f ishing c lose i nshore. A v ariety o f o ther f ish w ere t aken f rom b oats u sing a d ifferent t ype o f h andline ( a ' bow s peet'). T he f ish w ere l anded n ear t he f ishermen's h ouses. R endall ( 1973) d escribes a f ishing t rip f or s aithe t aken f rom r ocks a long t he s hore a nd a s hort f ishing t rip i n a b oat h andlining f or v arious s pecies. I n b oth c ases t he f ishermen c arried t he c atch a way f rom t he s hore i n b askets. T he f ish w ere u sually t aken b ack t o t he d omestic d welling f or c onsumpiton, p rocessing a nd s torage. S mall s aithe c aught i n l arge n umbers w ere c ured i n b rine a nd d ried w ith t heir h eads o n. I n t his c ase t he p rocessing w ould l eave v ery f ew f ish r emains i n t he a rchaeological r ecord. F enton ( 1978: 5 39) d escribes h ow t hey w ere g utted, c leaned, l eft i n s alt, a nd f inally t hreaded o nto s pits t o b e h ung a cross t he d omestic f ire f or d rying. A l arge n umber o f s pecies c aught a t a d omestic l evel w ere s imply w ind d ried w ithout s alt t o m ake ' stock f ish'. S tock f ish i s a g eneric n ame f or a ll f ish d ried i n t he r ound o r i n a p artly s evered s tate, 3 6

C OLLEY: S ITE F ORMATION A ND A RCHAEOLOGICAL F ISH R EMAINS s ometimes w ith t he h ead o n. C utting ( 1955: 1 20) c ription o f s tock f ish p reparation i n S candinavia.

g ives

a g ood

d es-

M uch o f t he f ish p reserved b y s alting a nd d rying w as c onsumed i n t he s ame p lace t hat i t w as p rocessed, a t a l ater t ime. H owever, s ome o f i t w as t raded a way f rom t he s ettlement, i n p articular s mall s aithe, s purdog ( Squalus a canthias) a nd d ogfish ( Scyliorhinus s p.). U nless t he h eads w ere c hopped o ff a nd d iscarded a t t he t ime o f p rocessing, f ish t raded o ut o f d omestic d welling s ites w ould l eave l ittle o r n o a rchaeo logical t rade. I n t he N orthern I sles m any s mall f ish s eem t o h ave b een d ried w hole, w ithout b utchery. O ther t ypes o f t rade, s uch a s t he r edistribution o f s mall q uantit ies o f f ish b etween h ouseholds, w ould a ffect t he f ish b ones f ound a t d omestic d welling s ites. A s n oted a bove, w hole f ish o f l ow c ommercial v alue, w aste h eads, l ivers, r oes, a nd p arts o f b ackbones c ut o ut o f l arge f ish w ere a ll t ransported f rom t he c ommercial f ishing s tations b ack t o t he h ouses.

D OMESTIC D WELLING S ITES

-

C ONSUMPTION A ND R UBBISH D ISPOSAL

M any o f t he f ish t aken a t a d omestic l evel w ere e aten f resh a nd F enton ( 1976, 1 978) h as d escribed s ome o f t he w ays i n w hich t hey w ere c ooked. S aithe m ight b e f ried a fter b eing d ipped i n o atmeal, o r f ried o r b aked o n t he c oals o f t he f ire, w ithout o pening o r c leaning. T hey w ere s ometimes b oiled t o m ake s oup. F ish h eads w ere o ften e aten a s w ell a s t he r est o f t he f ish. F ew o f t he c ooking m ethods d escribed s eem l ikely

t o

h ave

d estroyed

t he

b ones

o f

t he

f ish,

w ith

t he

p ossible

e xception o f b oiling f or l ong p eriods t o m ake s oup. T he l ayout o f t he d omestic d wellings, a s w ell a s t he w ay t he a gricultural s ystem f unctioned, a re r elevant t o t he d isposal o f d omestic r ubbish, i ncluding f ish r emains. T he t raditional O rkney d welling u ntil t he e arly l 9 th c entury w as t he l onghouse w ith l iving q uarters a t o ne e nd o f t he b uilding a nd t he b yre f or k eeping a nimals a t t he o ther e nd. F enton ( 1978: 4 1) n otes h ow i ndividual d wellings w ere g rouped i nto t ownships, w hich w ere c lose-knit c ommunities o f p eople w ho d epended o n e ach o ther a nd o n t he r esources o f t he a rea f or s ubs istence. T he b uildings i n t he t ownship w ere c lustered c lose t ogether. F enton ( 1978: 1 53) d escribes h ow t he f loors o f t he h ouses w ere o ften s imply m ade o f b are e arth. I f t he s oil b ecame d amp, s tones w ere p laced u nder t he w ooden l egs o f b eds t o p revent t hem f rom r otting. P resumably s mall f ish b ones a nd o ther h ousehold r ubbish c ould b ecome i ncorporated i nto s uch a f loor. H owever, m ost d omestic r ubbish w as d isposed o f i n t he f ire, o r e ventually t hrown o nto a m idden s ituated n ear t o t he b yre. H earths w ere c onstructed f rom s tones e mbedded i nto t he e arth f loor a nd c overed o ver w ith c lay. I n O rkney a s tone p artition w as o ften p laced a long t he b ack o f t he f ire. A h ole i n t he b ack a llowed a shes t o b e p ushed t hrough i nto t he ' ootbyte' o r s cullery a rea, w here t hey w ere c ontained w ithin a c ircle o f w et, s andy p eats, f rom w here t hey w ere 3 7

C OLLEY:

S ITE F ORMATION A ND A RCHAEOLOGICAL F ISH R EMAINS

r emoved t o o utside t he h ouse. T he c ontinual s cooping u p o f a shes l eft a h ollow i n t he f loor o f t he h ouse. A shes a nd h ousehold r ubbish a ssociated w ith t hem m ight b e t aken o ut a nd d irectly s pread o n t he f ields. O therwise i t m ight b e u sed t o b ed d own c attle m anure i nside t he b yre, o r m ixed w ith t he c ompost m idden b uilt u p o utside t he b yre. C attle m anure w as d eliberately a llowed t o a ccumulate i n t he b yre m ixed w ith a shes f rom t he d omestic h earth a nd w ith g rass a nd p eat m ould. T his m ixture c ould s ometimes e nd u p a pproximately 1 ,5 m d eep s o t hat t he h eads o f t he c attle t ouched t he r oof. P eriodically t he a ccumulated c ontents o f t he b yre w ere c leared o ut a nd t ransferred t o t he c ompost m idden. T he c ompost m idden, w hich w as s et u p p artially t o c ope w ith t he n ecessity o f e mptying t he b yre f rom t ime t o t ime, c onsisted o f e arth, b yre m anure, s eaweed a nd a shes a nd d omestic r ubbish f rom t he h earth ( Fenton, 1 978: 2 81). F ish a nd f ish o ffal w ere s ometimes d eliberately m ixed i nto t he c ompost t o i mprove i ts q ualities. T he f ertiliser s o p roduced w as t aken o ut a nd s pread o n t he f ields. D omestic r ubbish w as a lso f ed t o p igs, w hich w ere s ometimes t ethered i nside t he h ouses t o a ct a s ' living r efuse-disposal u nits'. O therwise, p igs w ere k ept i n s talls o r s ties n ear t o t he h ouse f or a t l east p art o f t he y ear. E xperiments c arried o ut b y J ones ( this v olume) d emonstrate t hat p igs a re h ighly d estructive o f f ish b ones. T he

r ubbish d isposal

p ractices d escribed h ere w ould

r esult

i n t he

d estruction o f s ome f ish r emains b y b urning a nd f eeding t o p igs. A l ot o f m aterial w ould b e r emoved f rom t he a rea o f t he d omestic d welling t o b e s pread o n t he f ields, w here a gain i t w ould e ffectively b e l ost f rom t he a rchaeological r ecord. I t s eems t here w as a c ontinual r emoval o f a ccumulated d omestic r ubbish, f rom t he h earth a rea i n t he h ouse t o t he f ields, b yre o r m idden; f rom t he b yre t o t he m idden; a nd f rom t he m idden t o t he f ields. A t a ny m oment i n t ime t he a ccumulated d eposits i n t hese d ifferent c ontexts ( for e xample, s oft i nternal h earth a rea, t he f loor o f t he b yre,

e arth h ouse f loors, t he t he m idden i n t he y ard,

t he f ertilizer s pread o n t he f ields) w ould b e c apable o f p roviding d ifferent t ypes o f i nformation a bout t he a ctivities o f t he o ccupants o f t he d welling. T he

h earth

a rea

w ould

c ontain

t he

i mmediate

r emains

o f

d omestic

a ctivity o ver a s hort p eriod o f t ime, s ince t he h earth w as p reviously c leared o ut. T he b yre f loor w ould c ontain i nformation a bout s ome o f t he a ctivities c arried o ut i n t he h ouse o ver a l onger p eriod o f t ime, s ince t he b yre w as l ast c leared o ut. T he m idden w ould c ontain a m ixture o f m aterial b uilt u p i n t he b yre, t ogether w ith r ubbish d umped s traight f rom t he h earth a rea.

m ore

d iscrete

g roups

o f

I n a ddition, F enton ( 1978: 1 37) h as p ointed o ut t hat i t i s . c ommon f or f arm b uildings t o c ontinually c hange a nd a dapt t hrough t ime. I n a t ownship a bandoned b uildings c ould h ave b een s ituated c lose t o o thers s till i n u se, i n w hich c ase t hey c ould h ave b een u sed t o d ump r ubbish. A ll t hese a ctivities w ould a dd c omplexity t o t he m aterial r emains l eft b ehind. 3 8

C OLLEY:

S ITE F ORMATION A ND A RCHAEOLOGICAL F ISH R EMAINS

D ISCUSSION A ND S OME A RCHAEOLOGICAL I MPLICATIONS S everal r ecent e xcavations i n O rkney h ave p roduced l arge q uantit ies o f f ish r emains ( Colley, 1 983a-c, 1 984a & b , i n p ress, f orthcoming a -e; W heeler, 1 977, 1 979, 1 983). T he e thnohistorical d escriptions o f O rkney a nd S hetland a re r elevant t o t he i nterpretation t hat c an b e p laced o n t he f ish b one a ssemblages f rom t hese s ites. T he c onclusions t o b e d rawn a re c autionary: g reat c are m ust b e t aken w hen e xtrapolating f rom f ish b ones t o f ishing s trategy. I t i s u nlikely t hat t rade, r edistribution, b utchery, f ish p rocess ing, c ooking a nd r ubbish d isposal i n t he p re- a nd e arly h istoric p eriods w ould h ave b een i dentical t o t hose d escribed h ere f or t he 1 7th t o 1 9th c enturies. T he m ain v alue o f t he e thnohistorical d ata p resented a bove i s t o i ndicate t he k inds o f f actors w hich m ay p attern v ariability i n t he a rchaeological r ecord o f e arlier s ocieties i n O rkney. D escripti ons o f r ecent h istorical p ractices c an b e u sed t o f ormulate r elevant q uestions a bout p ossible s ite f ormation p rocesses i n o peration i n t he p ast. F or e xample, t he c entral o rganisation o f l arge a nd t he f ish p rocessing m ethods i nvolved i n t his, f or r emoving f ish f rom t he a rchaeological r ecord o f t he s ettlement p atterns i n t he i slands. I t i s l arge s cale f ishing o rganised f rom c entral p laces w hether f ish w ere t raded o ut o f t he a rea, a nd m ight b e r ecognised a rchaeologically. I f

f ish w ere

l anded

a nd

p rocessed

i n

o ne

s cale t rade i n f ish, w ere r esponsible b oth a nd f or s haping s ome l egitimate t o a sk i f o ccurred i n t he p ast, h ow t hese a ctivities

p lace,

a nd

c onsumed

i n

a nother, t he e xcavation o f a s ingle a rchaeological s ite w ould p rovide o nly a n i ncomplete p icture o f p ast f ishing a ctivities i n t he a rea. T here i s c learly a n eed f or c lose c ooperation b etween t he a rchaeoz oologist, t he a rchaeologist a nd o ther ' specialists'. O nly a rchaeology c an p rovide t he f ollowing t ypes o f i nformation w hich a re v ital t o a f ull u nderstanding o f p ast s ubsistence i n O rkney: t he d istribution o f s ettlements i n t he l andscape, i n r elation t o e ach o ther a nd t o n atural r esources; r elative d ating t o e stablish w hich s ites w ere i n u se a t t he s ame t ime; t he s ize a nd l ikely p opulation o f d ifferent s ites; t he f unction o f d ifferent b uildings w ithin a s ite a nd t he n ature o f t he a ctivities c arried o ut t here; t he i mportance o f t rade i n i tems o ther t han f ood; d irect e vidence f or s ubsistence m ethods a nd t echnology. W ithout t his a rchaeological i nformation, m uch a rchaeozoological s tudy i s m eaningless. R ubbish d isposal a t t he l evel o f t he i ndividual h ousehold a nd s ettlement a lso h as i mportant a rchaeological i mplications. I n t he 1 7th t o 19th c entury r ubbish d isposal w as c onditioned b y a n umber o f f actors. I t w as d ependent u pon t he m ixed a gricultural s ystem i n w hich c attle w ere k ept f or a l arge p art o f t he y ear i n b yres c lose t o t he h ouse, a nd f rom w hich t heir d ung, m ade i nto f ertiliser, w as c arried o ut t o t he f ields w here t he c rops w ere g rown. H ad t his a gricultural s ystem n ot b een i n o peration, d omestic r ubbish m ay h ave a ccumulated a t a g reater r ate a round t he h ouse. 3 9

C OLLEY:

S ITE F ORMATION A ND A RCHAEOLOGICAL F ISH R EMAINS

O nly t he c lose i ntegration o f a rchaeozoology a nd a rchaeology c an p rovide i nformation o n t he f unction o f d ifferent b uildings o n p rehistor ic a nd e arly h istoric s ites i n O rkney, o n t he n ature o f t he p ast a gricultural s ystem, a nd t he e xtent t o w hich t hese f actors c ombine t o e ffect t he i nterpretation o f a rchaeozoological e vidence. T he e thnohist orical d ata a lso s uggest t hat f aunal r emains e xcavated f rom d ifferent t ypes o f c ontext a re l ikely t o p rovide d ifferent t ypes o f i nformation a bout p ast s ubsistence. T he m ain c onclusions f rom t his p aper a re t hat p atterning i n a rchaeological d ata c aused b y r ubbish d isposal c an b e a s c omplex, a nd a s i mportant t o t he q uality o f i nformation t o b e g ained b y e xcavation, a s d ifferential p reservation, d estruction b y s cavengers, s a m pling, s ieving a nd o ther f actors n ow c ommonly a cknowledged t o b e i mportant t o a rchaeozoological i nterpretation. T he e ffects o f r ubbish d isposal a re p articularly d ifficult t o a ssess b ecause, b eing c ulturally s pecific, t hey a re d irectly g overned b y h uman n ature a nd c annot b e e asily t ested b y e xperiment. E thnohistorical s tudies o ffer a p artial s olution b y a t l east p roviding s uggestions c oncerning t he w ay r ubbish m ight h ave b een t hrown a way i n t he p ast, a nd h ow t his m ight b e v isible i n t he a rchaeol ogical r ecord. T here i s n o s imple s olution. T he a rchaeozoologist c an o nly w ork c losely w ith t he a rchaeologist a nd o ther s pecialists t o t ry t o c reate a n i ntegrated p icture o f t he p ast, a ll t he t ime k eeping i n m ind t he l imitations, a s w ell a s t he p otential o f a rchaeozoological d ata.

R EFERENCES C olley,

S .M.

( 1983a).

I nterpreting p rehistoric f ishing s trategies:

a n O rkney c ase s tudy. I n: C . G rigson & J . C lutton-Brock ( eds.), A nimals a nd A rchaeology: 2 . S hell M iddens, F ishes a nd B irds ( British A rchaeol ogical R eports I nternational S eries 1 83). O xford, p p. 1 57-171. C olley,

S .M.

( 1983b).

T he

R ole

o f

A rchaeology: W ith S pecial R eference t o P hD t hesis. U niversity o f S outhampton.

F ish

B one

t he

O rkney

S tudies

i n

I sles.

E conomic

U npublished

C olley, S .M. ( 1983c). T he m arine f aunal r emains. I n: J .W. H edges ( ed.), I sbister. A C hambered T omb i n O rkney ( British A rchaeological R eports B ritish S eries 1 15). C olley, p retation o f D esse-Berset d e R echerches

O xford,

p p.

1 51-158.

S .M. ( 1984a). S ome m ethodological p roblems i n t he i nterf ish r emains f rom a rchaeological s ites i n O rkney. I n: N . ( ed.), 2 nd F ish O steoarchaeology M eeting ( C.N.R.S. C entre A rcheologiques, N otes e t M onographies T echniques 1 6), p p.

1 17-131.

e t

C olley, S .M. ( 1984b). T he m arine r esource r emains. I n: J .W. H edges a l., T rial e xcavations o n P ictish a nd V iking s ettlements a t S aevar

H owe,

B irsay, C olley,

H edges,

B u,

O rkney. G lasgow A rchaeological J ournal 1 0, S .M .

( in

G urness,

p ress).

T he

m arine

f aunal

a nd t he B rochs o f O rkney. 4 0

p p.

r emains.

11-113. I n:

J .W.

C OLLEY: S ITE F ORMATION A ND A RCHAEOLOGICAL F ISH R EMAINS C olley, S .M. ( forthcoming a ). t ions a t T uquoy, W estray, O rkney.

F ish r emains.

C olley, S .M. ( forthcoming b ). F ish E xcavations a t B rough R oad, B irsay, O rkney.

I n:

0 .

r emains.

O wen,

I n:

E xcava-

C .

M orris,

C olley, S .M. ( forthcoming c ). F ish E xcavations a t B rough o f B irsay, O rkney.

r emains.

I n:

C .

M orris,

C olley, S.M . ( forthcoming d ). F ish E xcavations a t B eachview, B irsay, O rkney.

r emains.

I n:

C .

M orris,

C olley, S .M . ( forthcoming e ). S mall-scale e xcavations o f t hree e roding m iddens a t C leat, E vertaft a nd Q uoygrew , W estray, O rkney. C utting,

C .L.

F enton,

A .

( 1955). F ish S aving. L ondon. ( 1976).

T raditional

N orthern I sles o f S cotland S ymposium f or E thnological L erwick. F enton,

A .

( 1978).

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E lements

i n

t he

D iet

o f

t he

( Reports f rom t he S econd I nternational F ood R esearch, H elsinki, A ugust 1 973).

N orthern

I sles:

O rkney

a nd

S hetland.

E dinburgh. L ow, G . Q uadrupeds,

( 1813). B irds,

F auna O rcadensis. O r t he N atural R eptiles a nd F ishes o f O rkney

H istory o f t he a nd S hetland.

E dinbugh. R endall,

R .

( 1973). O rkney S hore. O rkney.

W heeler, A . ( 1977). T he f ish b ones f rom B uckquoy, O rkney. I n: A . R itchie, E xcavations o f P ictish a nd V iking-age f armsteads a t B uckquoy, O rkney. P roceedings o f 1 74-227.

t he S ociety o f A ntiquaries o f S cotland

1 08,

p p.

• W heeler, A . ( 1979). T he f ish b ones. I n: C . R enfrew , I nvestigations i n O rkney ( Report o f t he R esearch C ommittee o f t he S ociety o f A ntiquar ies o f L ondon 3 8). L ondon,

p p.

1 44-149.

W heeler, A . ( 1983). F ish r emains f rom K nap o f H owar, O rkney. I n: A . R itchie, E xcavation o f a N eolithic f armstead a t K nap o f H owar, P apa W estray, O rkney. P roceedings o f t he S ociety o f A ntiquaries o f S cotland 1 13,

p p.

1 03-105.

4 1

F ISHING A ND C ONSUMPTION M IDDLE A GES'.

O F

C OD

( GADUS

M ORHUA

L INNAEUS,

1 758)

I N

T HE

D irk H einrich I nstitut f lr H austierkunde N eue U niversit t D -23 K iel B .R.D.

K eywords: N ORTHERN E LISENHOF, H AITHABU, S TOCKFISH, G ORGE.

C ENTRAL E UROPE, M EDIEVAL T IMES,

S CHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, S CHLESWIG, A RCHAEOZOOLOGY, G ADIDS, C OD,

M EDIEVAL C OD F ISHING I n m edieval s ettlements o f n orthern C entral E urope f inds o f c od a nd o ther g adids a re o f v arying i mportance. I n s ome s ettlements a l ot o f r emains w ere f ound, f rom o thers t here e xist o nly r are f inds, a nd s ometimes n one w ere d iscovered. I n o rder t o e valuate t his o ne m ust k now d ifferent c ircumstances c oncerning c od a nd c od-fisheries. E ver s ince t he m edieval p eriod t here e xists a n i mportant e uropean f ishing a rea a djacent t o t he w est c oast o f N orway n ear L ofoten a nd f urther s outh a t t he c od's s pawning g rounds ( Andersson, 1 964; M uus & D ahlstr8m , 1 973). A ccording t o h istorical s ources t he m edieval f ishing t here w as b ased o n e xport. S oon t he H anseatic L eague w as i nvolved i n t his e xport, w hose c entre w as a t B ergen, a nd s ince t he 1 3th c entury t he H anseatic L eague w as t he m ain t rading c ompany ( Rafto, 1 959; H itzbleck, 1 971; E bel, i n p ress). T he a vailability o f f ish i n t hat r egion w as n ot t he o nly s upposition f or t his t rade. B eyond t hat t here e xisted c limatic a nd e daphic o nes t o p roduce s tockfish ( Lepiksaar, 1 966-1968), a c onserved f ood p repared o ut o f c od a nd o ther g adids, w hich a re r elatively p oor i n f at a nd t herefore g ood o bjects f or d rying ( Vollan, 1 959). B ut i t w as a lso i mportant f or t he d evelopment o f t his t rade t hat t he h uman p opulation t here w as o f l ow d ensity. T hus p eople g ained m ore f ish t han t hey n eeded, w hereas t here e xisted a d emand f or a grarian p roducts. O n t he o ther h and, i n c entral, w estern a nd s outhern p arts o f E urope, w here m any p eople l ived, a l ot o f f ood w as n eeded, a nd o ne m ust a lso m ention t hat a fter C hristia nization t he i mportance o f f ish a s a p art o f t his f ood g rew, f or i t w as L enten f are ( Rafto, 1 959; D ahl, 1 974). C od r emains a nd t hose o f o ther g adids o f m edieval s ettlements i n N orthern C entral E urope c an b e r egarded t o ag reat e xtent a s r emains o f s uch a m erchandise. F irstly s ome s ettlements w ere s ituated f ar a way f rom t he c oastline, t herefore t heir i nhabitants h ad n o p ossibility f or c od-fishing. I n t he s econd p lace t he l ack o f s keletal e lements o f t he s kull a nd o verrepresentation o f e lements o f t he s houldergirdle a nd o f v ertebrae p oint t o s tockfish. T hirdly t he s ize o f i mportant, p articularly l arge s pecimens a re p roved e xpected a s i mports.

4 2

m ost f inds w hich c an

i s b e

H EINRICH:

F ISHING A ND C ONSUMPTION O F C OD

B ut t he r eal s ituation i s m ore c omplex, f or i n a ny c ase o ne m ust a ssume t hat c od r emains o f c oastal s ettlements a re d erived f rom l ocal f ishing t o s ome e xtent. B eyond t hat o ne c an o bserve c hronological a s w ell a s t opographical d ifferences i n i mportance o f g adids. A ccording t o B enecke ( 1983) f or i nstance a lmost n o c od r emains w ere f ound i n S lavonic s ettlements o f t he S outhern B altic a rea n either i n c oastal n or i n i nland s ites. T hat i s a lso t rue f or S lavonic s ites i n S chleswigH olstein, w hereas i n n on-Slavonic s ettlements r emains o f g adids a nd e specially o f c od w ere n early a lways f ound ( Figure 1 , T able 1 ). B ut t here e xist r elations b etween t he a mount o f c od r emains a nd f unction o n t he o ne h and a s w ell a s t ime o f a s ettlement o n t he o ther h and ( Table 2 ). S o i n c astles n o o r o nly f ew r emains w ere e xcavated, a nd f rom e arlier m edieval t ime t here a re n ormally f ewer r emains d ocumented t han f rom l ater m edieval t ime. A n e xception f or t his i s s hown f or E lisenhof, b ut t hat r ural s ettlement s ituated a t t he c oast o f t he N orth S ea h as h ad a s pecial f unction a s a f ishing v illage ( Heinrich, 1 985a). F urther i t i s w orth m entioning t hat a l ot o f c od r emains a re p roved f or l ater m edieval u rban s ettlements. C hronological d ifferences c an b e e stablished n ot o nly b etween d iff erent s ettlements b ut a lso w ithin a s ettlement. F or t his p urpose H aithabu a nd S chleswig c an b e r egarded a s o ne u nit, b ecause t he o ne i s t he s uccessor t o t he o ther. I n H aithabu t here w ere f ew r emains, c hiefly o f s mall c od ( Lepiksaar & H einrich, 1 977), i n S chleswig t here w ere m any r emains o f l arge c od. R emains o f h addock ( Melanogrammus a eglefinus) w ere a bsent a t H aithabu, a t S chleswig h owever t his s pecies i s p resent. S uch d ifferences a re a lso e stablished b etween e arlier a nd l ater p hases o f S chleswig. I n t he l ater l ayers t he i mportance o f g adids i s s omewhat r educed, t he n umber o f s maller s pecimens i ncreases ( Heinrich, 1 983), a nd t he s kull i s m ore r epresented c ompared w ith t he m aterial o f t he e arlier l ayers. M edieval L i lbeck p rovides s imilar r esults t o c ontempor ary S chleswig. I n l ayers o f e arly m odern t imes i n L i lbeck h owever t he q uantity o f r emains o f s mall s pecimens i s e ven h igher ( Quade, 1 984, f ish r emains e xamined a ccording t o s ize b y H einrich). S o o n t he w hole w e m ay c onclude t hat f rom t he l ate m iddle a ges t o m odern t imes s mall s pecimens o f c od b ecame m ore a nd m ore i mportant. T hese s mall i ndividuals i n p rinciple c ould b e d erived f rom t he l ocal o r a n earby f ishing. T he i nferior s ize o f t he r emains a nd t he f act t hat t he f requencies o f t he s keletal e lements c orrespond t o a c ertain d egree w ith t he a natomical f requencies p oint t o t hese c ircumstances.

G ORGES O bviously t here e xisted a l bcal E lisenhof ( Heinrich, 1 985a). F rom t his

c od-fishing a t e arly m edieval s ite s keletal e lements o f t he

s kull e specially a re r epresented, t hat p oint t o b utchering g arbage a nd h ence t o t he l anding p lace o f t he c atches. B eyond t hat t here w ere f ound 1 6 w ooden g orges ( Figure 2 ), w hich p robably h ave b een u sed a s f ishh ooks ( Szabó e t a l., 1 985), e specially a s c od-hooks. T hat i s l ikely b oth b y t heir s ize ( 10-13 c m) a nd b y t he f act t hat c od-fishing o rigin ally w as b y l ine f ishing ( v. B randt, 1 975). S uch a s ort o f i mplement i s a lso k nown f rom o ther

s ites

( Eldj rn e t a l., 4 3

1 959;

S chietzel,

1 970;

H EINRICH:

F ISHING A ND C ONSUMPTION O F C OD

R ulewicz, 1 974; B erg e t a l., 1 981). I n p rinciple i t m ay h ave b een o f u se n ot o nly f or c od-fishing b ut a lso f or o ther l arge-sized p redators a mong f ishes a s w ell a s w aterfowl ( Sirelius, 1 934). I n S chleswig n o s uch g orges w ere f ound a mong t housands o f w ooden a nd b one i mplements ( Ulbricht, 1 984; p ers. c omm .). S o t hat m ay b e a n i ndication t hat t he i nhabitants o f t his s ettlement d id n ot f ish f or c od. I t w ould b e c onceivable t oo t hat s uch g orges w ere n o l onger u sed i n o ur r egion i n t he t ime o f S chleswig, b ut a ccording t o h istorical s ources, t he f ishery a rea o f t he f ishermen o f S chleswig h as b een t he S chlei e ver s ince ( Radtke, 1 977). F rom t hat p oint o f v iew l ocal f ishing f or c od i s u nlikely, f or c od n ormally w ill n ot e nter t his i nlet o f t he B altic ( Neu en, 1 968). T herefore o ne c an a ssume t hat m ost r emains o f s mall c od, w hich w ere f ound e specially i n l ayers o f l ater S chleswig, a re d erived f rom m erchandise, b ut i n c ontrast t o s tockfish t hey a re n ot d erived f rom l ong-distance t rade b ut f rom l ocal t rade. B esides, h istorical s ources ( Seehase, 1 935) i nform B altic f ishing t hat m eans n earby f ishing l ate m edieval t imes ( 14th c entury). -

-

u s o f t he i mportance o f i n S chleswig-Holstein i n

I n o rder t o g ain m ore k nowledge a bout f ishing a nd f ish c onsumption w e n eed a l ot o f m aterial f rom m any d ifferent p laces, t hat i s f ish r emains a s w ell a s f ishing u tensils.

S UMMARY I n

m edieval

t imes

t here

e xisted

a n

i mportant

s tockfish-trade

i n

E urope. T he f inds o f g adids f rom m edieval s ettlements i n N orthern C entral E urope c an b e r egarded t o a g reat e xtent a s r emains o f s uch a m erchandise. T hat i s p roved e specially b y t he e xtensive l ack o f t he h ead's s keletal e lements, w hich p oints t o s tockfish, a nd b y t he s ize o f m ost f inds, w hich p oints t o v ery l arge s pecimens. N evertheless t here a re t opographical a nd c hronological a s w ell a s f unctional d ifferences b etween t he s ettlements. I t i s s hown t hat p articularly i n m edieval u rban s ettlements g adids w ere a n i mportant f ood. I n t his c onnection o ne m ust a lso m ention t hat t he n umber o f s mall s pecimens o f c od i ncreased f rom t he l ate m iddle a ges t o e arly m odern t imes. T hese s maller i ndivid uals c ould b e d erived f rom t he l ocal o r a n earby f ishery. T he c odf ishing o f t he r ural m arsh s ettlement E lisenhof i s d iscussed w ith r egard t o f ish r emains a s w ell a s f inds o f g orges f rom t hat s ite, w hich c ould h ave b een u sed a s f ish-hoOks.

N OTES 1 ) A n e xtended v ersion o f t his a rticle w ill b e p ublished i n g erman ( Heinrich,

i n p ress).

A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ia m m uch i ndebted t o M rs.

J ennie C oy f or l inguistic c orrections.

4 4

H EINRICH: F ISHING A ND C ONSUMPTION O F C OD R EFERENCES A ndersson,

K .A.

( ed.

1 964).

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o ch

F iske

i N orden

1 ,

2 .

S tockholm. B enecke, N . ( 1983). D ie T ierreste a us e iner f rlhmittelalterlichen S iedlung i n R alswiek/Kreis R i lgen e in B eitrag z ur F rlhgeschichte d er H austierfauna i m s i ldlichen O stseegebiet. T hesis. B erlin. -

B erg, H ., L . B ender J $rgensen & 0 . M ortens n ( 1981). S andhagen. E t l angelandsk f iskerleje f ra r enaissancen. L angelands M useum 1 981. B randt Z ur

A .v.

( 1975).

G eschichte d er

D as

g rosse B uch v om F ischfang

f ishereilichen T echnik.

I nnsbruck

-

i nternational. T irol/Frankfurt

M ain.

-

D ahl, S . ( 1974). T orskfiske ( Faer erne). I n: K ulturhistorisk L eksikon f or N ordisk M iddelalder 1 8. K $benhavn, R eprint V iborg 1 982, c ol.

5 12-513.

D riesch, A . v .d. ( 1982). F ischreste a us d er s lawisch-deutschen F lrstenburg a uf d em W einberg i n H itzacker ( Elbe). N eue A usgrabungen u nd F orschungen i n N iedersachsen 1 5,

K .

3 95-423.

p p.

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k unde.

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E ldjdrn,

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K ulturhistorisk L eksikon f or V iborg 1 981, c ol. 3 24-325.

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t ion b etween e arly m edieval H aithabu a nd i ts s uccessor, S chleswig. I n: C . G rigson & J . C lutton-Brock ( eds.), A nimals a nd A rchaeology: 2 . S hell M iddens, F ishes a nd B irds. B AR . I nternational S eries 1 83. O xford, p p. 1 51-156. H einrich, D . M arschensiedlung

( 1985a). D ie F ischreste a us d er f rlhgeschichtlichen b eim E lisenhof i n E iderstedt. S chriften a us d er

A rch ologisch-Zoologischen A rbeitsgruppe S chleswig H einrich,

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( 1985b).

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K iel 9 .

s lawische B urg

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s tein. H austierhaltung u nd J agd. O ffa-Bi lcher 5 9. N eumünster. H einrich, m orhua L innaeus,

D .

( in

p ress).

F ang

u nd

K onsum

1 758) i m M ittelalter. O ffa 4 3.

4 5

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( Gadus

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H itzbleck, H . ( 1971). D ie B edeutung d es F isches f lr d ie E rn hrungswirtschaft M itteleuropas i n v orindustrieller Z eit u nter b esonderer B erlcksichtigung N iedersachsens. T hesis. G 8ttingen. J ohansson, F . & H . R eichstem ( 1979). E inige k nochenfunden a us d er A ltstadt v on K iel. O ffa 3 6, pp.

A ngaben z u 1 52-162.

T ier-

L epiksaar, J . ( 1966-1968). R estes d 'animaux p rovenant d u G rand B esle. M eddelanden f rAn L unds U niversitets H istoriska M useum , p p. 8 5-116. L epiksaar, J . & D . H einrich ( 1977). U ntersuchungen a n F ischresten a us d er f rl lhmittelalterlichen S iedlung H aithabu. B erichte U ber d ie A usgrabungen i n H aithabu 1 0, pp. 9 -122. M uus, B .J. & P . D ahlstr8m ( 1973). M eeresfische d er O stsee, d er N ordsee, d es A tlantiks i n F arben a bgebildet u nd b eschrieben. B iolog ie, F ang u nd w irtschaftliche B edeutung. M [ lnchen/Bern/Wien. -

N eu en, W . ( 1968). D er F ischbestand u nd d ie F ischereiwirtschaft i n d er S chlei. B iologie, W achstum , N ahrung u nd F angertr ge d er hufigs ten F ischarten. S chriften d es N aturwissenschaftlichen V ereins S chlesw ig-Holstein 3 8, pp. 5 -50. -

P aul, A . ( 1980). U ntersuchungen a n T ierknochen a us d em m ittelalt erlichen L t lbeck ( Grabung K 3nigsstrasse 5 9-63). L t lbecker S chriften z ur A rch ologie u nd K ulturgeschichte 2 , pp. 5 -104; 2 02 p late 1 -10. P aul, A . ( unpublished). K nochenfunde a us d em m ittelalterlich-neuz eitlichen L i lbeck ( Grabung H undestrasse 9 -11). U npublished m anuscript. Q uade, V . ( 1984). D ie T ierknochen a us d er K loake d er L i lbecker F ronerei ( 15. 1 7 , . J ahrhundert). L t lbecker S chriften z ur A rch ologie u nd K ulturgeschichte 8 , p p. 1 05-167. -

R adtke, C . ( 1977). B emerkungen z um m ittelalterlichen F ischfang m it H er .ingsz unen i n d er S chlei. B erichte U ber d ie A usgrabungen i n H aithabu 1 0,

f or

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1 23-140.

R afto, T . ( 1959). F iskhandel ( Norge). I n: K ulturhistorisk L eksikon N ordisk M iddelalder 4 . K benhavn, R eprint V iborg 1 981, c ol.

3 66-370. R equate,

H .

( 1956).

D ie

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d en

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f rl lhgeschichtlicher S iedlungen i n S chleswig-Holstein. S chriften N aturwissenschaftlichen V ereins S chleswig-Holstein 2 8, p p. 2 1-41.

d es

R ohlf, K . ( 1978). U ntersuchungen a n T ierknochen a us m ittelalt erlichen b is f r t lhneuzeitlichen S iedlungsschichten i n L i lbeck ( Grabung H undestrase 1 3-17). R ulewicz,

M .

E xamination w ork. K iel. ( 1974).

f rlhmittelalterlichen

A us

S t dten

a n

S tudien d er

U ber

w ith g erman s ummary). A rchaeologia P olski 1 9, 4 6

d ie

O derm t indung. p p.

F ischerei ( in

p olish

3 87-482.

i n

d en

l anguage

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S chietzel, K . ( 1970). H Blzerne K leinfunde a us H aithabu ( Ausgrabung 1 963-1964). D as a rch o1ogische F undmaterial I ( 1963-1964). B erichte Ü ber d ie A usgrabungen i n H aithabu 4 , p p. 7 7-91. S chr8der, B . ( 1984). U ntersuchungen a n T ierknochen a us a lt- u nd j ungslawischen S iedlungsschichten d es B urgwalles A lt L i lbeck. L i lbecker S chriften z ur A rch ologie u nd K ulturgeschichte 9 , p p. 4 5-87. S eehase, H . ( 1935). D ie F ischerei i n S chleswig-Holstein. I n: B orchling & 0 . M ensing ( eds.), S prache u nd V olkstum I V. H amburg.

W .

C .

S irelius, U .T. ( 1934). J agd u nd F ischerei i n F innland. S teinitz ( ed.), D ie V olkskultur F innlands V ol. 1 . B erlin/Leipzig.

S zabó, M ., G . G renander-Nyberg & J . M yrdal ( 1985). D ie H olzfunde a us d er f rl lhgeschichtlichen W urt E lisenhof. S tudien z ur K lstenarc hHologie S chleswig-Holsteins S er. A , V ol. 5 . F rankfurt-Main/Bern/Las V egas. U lbricht, I . ( 1984). D ie V erarbeitung v on K nochen, G eweih u nd H orn i m m ittelalterlichen S chleswig. A usgrabungen i n S chleswig. B erichte u nd S tudien 3 . V ollan, 0 . ( 1959). F isketilvirkning. I n: K ul turhistorisk L eksikon f or N ordisk M iddelalder 4 . Kbenhavn, R eprint V iborg 1 981, c ol. 3 43-344.

4 7

4 8

4 9

5 0

A "

L e mbeCksbUrg Sch les w ig

Q�

0 Ha ithabu

E l isenho f

K ie lO

G iekau •

.

O ldenburg

Scharstorf I O lsborg I I B ischo f swarder

A lt Lübeck L übeck

• s lavOn iC s ett le ments

onon-slavoniC

F igure 1 :

s ett le ments

F ish r emains o f m edieval s ettlements i n S chleswig-Holstein.

m ents: n o o r o nly f ew f inds

o f g adids;

n on-Slavonic s ettlements

g adids a lways p resent a nd s ometimes n umerous

5 1

( from H einrich,

S lavonic s ettle-

e xcept L embecksburg:

i n p ress).

Figure 2 :

W ooden g orges f rom E lisenhof

t o S zabó e t a l.

-

i mplements f or c od f ishing? S pecies a ccording

( 1985) f rom a bove: T axus b accata ( Nr.

d etermined ( Nr.44), P runus a vium ( Nr. 4 0).

3 4), T axus b accata ( Nr.

S cale 1 :1 ( from H einrich,

5 2

i n p ress).

4 5), u n-

F ISH B ONE S URVIVAL S OME E XPERIMENTS.

I N T HE D IGESTIVE S YSTEMS O F T HE P IG,

D OG A ND M AN:

A ndrew K .G. J ones E nvironmental A rchaeology U nit, U niversity o f Y ork Y ork, Y O1 5 DD U nited K ingdom

K eywords: F ISH B ONE, T APHONOMY, P IG,

D OG, M AN,

D IGESTION,

F AECES

I NTRODUCTION T his p aper d escribes t hree s imple e xperiments w hich i nvestigate t he e ffects o f m ammalian d igestive s ystems o n f ish b ones, o toliths a nd o ther r esistent e lements. T he e xperiments w ere c arried o ut i n o rder t o v erify t hat s ome o f t he d amage o bserved o n a rchaeological m aterial, p articularly c haracteristic c rushing a nd f ragmentation o f h erring C lupea h arengus L . a nd e el A nguilla a nguilla ( L.) v ertebrae, w as c aused d uring i ngestion a nd d igestion. I n a ddition, i t w as h oped t hat t he r esults m ight b e u sed t o p redict h ow m uch f ish b one i s l ikely t o b e m issing f rom a rchaeological a ssemblages b ecause o f t he a ctions o f s cavengers l iving o n o r n ear a rchaeological s ites. T he

e xperiments

a re

a n

e xtension

o f

t he

w ork

u ndertaken

b y

S ebastian P ayne a nd P atrick M unson a nd d escribed b y J ones ( 1984). P ayne a nd M unson f ed a l arge d og t wo r ed s nappers ( Lutjianus s p.) a nd c ollected t he b ones t he d og f ailed t o i ngest, t hose v omited s oon a fter i ngestion, a nd t hose p resent i n t he d og's f aeces f or t he w eek f ollowing i ngestion. R ed s napper i s a s pecies w ith p articularly r obust b ones, y et o ver 8 0% o f t he r ecognizable e lements w ere a bsent f rom t he c ollected a ssemblages s howing h ow m uch t aphonomic l oss c an b e c aused b y s cav engers. I t w as d ecided t o c arry o ut e xperiments o n s pecies o f f ish w hich w ere a bundant i n m edieval u rban d eposits i n B ritain a nd i n p articular t he s ite a t 1 6-22 C oppergate, Y ork. A t t he s ame t ime i t w as d ecided t o e xtend t he r ange o f m ammals i nvestigated.

T HE E XPERIMENTS T he e ffects o f d igestive s ystems o f t hree m ammals m an, p ig a nd w ere i nvestigated. T hese a re k nown t o h ave o ccupied t he C opper-

d og

-

g ate s ite d uring t he A nglo-Scandinavian p eriod f rom e vidence o f e xcrement ( Jones, f orthcoming) a nd t heir b ones ( O 'Connor, 1 983).

t heir T hree

s pecies o f f ishes w ere e aten: h erring, m ackerel S comber s combrus L . a nd h addock M elanogrammus a eglefinus ( L.). T heir t otal l engths v aried b etween 2 4 a nd 3 5.5 c m ; t hus a ll w ere f ishes o f s mall t o m edium s ize. F ish o f t his s ize w ere a nd a re c ommonly e aten, a nd i t w as j udged t hat t heir b ones w ere u nlikely t o l odge i n t he i ngestor's o esophagus. T he e xperiments w ere c arried o ut d uring t he p eriod N ovember 1 983 t o J uly 1 984 w ith t he a ssistance o f t he o wners o f t he d omestic a nimals.

5 3

J ONES:

F ISH B ONE S URVIVAL I N D IGESTIVE S YSTEMS

T he s elected m ammals w ere a s f ollows: a p edigree f emale W essex S addleback p ig; a c rossbred f emale C olliedog a nd a n a dult C aucasian m an. T able 1 s ummarizes t he m aterial u sed i n t hese e xperiments. P ig T he p ig e agerly b olted a f resh g utted h erring a nd a m ackerel; m astication w as m inimal. T he p ig w as h oused i n a s mall s tone-built s hed w hich o pened o nto a g rass l awn b ounded b y a n e lectric f ence. N o f aeces w ere l ost t hrough r ain d isaggregation, a nd f aeces w ere c ollected a t 1 2 h ours i ntervals f or t he f irst f ive d ays. T hereafter, f aeces w ere c ollected d aily f or t wo d ays. D isaggregation o f t he f aeces w as a ccomplished b y r epeated s tirring i n h ot w ater a nd d ecanting t he s uspension t hrough 5 00 m icron a perture m eshed s ieves. T he p ig a te l arge q uantities o f g rass d uring t he e xperiment a nd p artly d igested g rass f ormed t he b ulk o f t he f aeces. A s atisfactory m ethod o f s eparating t he g rass f ragments f rom t he d enser b one a nd o ther i ngested m atter ( mainly s oil, e ggshell, s mall s tones a nd s eeds) w as d evised. T he f aeces w ere d isaggregated i n a 2 0 g allon t ank p rovided w ith a n o verflow p ipe 5 c m b elow i ts r im. T his a pparatus p ermitted t he f loating p articles t o b e s eparated f rom t he d enser m aterials. G rass f ragments w ere c ollected o n a 1 m m a perture m eshed s ieve, d ried a nd s orted t o c heck f or f ish b ones. N o b ones w ere r ecov ered f rom f loated f raction. T he c lean f aecal r esidues c ollected f rom t he b ottom o f t he t ank w ere a irdried a nd s orted. D og T he d og w as f ed a h erring a nd a s mall h addock; b oth f ish w ere g utted, l ightly f ried a nd m ixed w ith t he d og's c ereal-based f eed. T his m ixture w as e aten v ery r apidly. H owever, s hortly a fter s wallowing, a v ery l arge p art o f t he m eal, i f n ot a ll, w as r egurgitated a fter a s hort p eriod o f c oughing. M ost o f t he f ish w as r eingested i mmediately b ut a s mall a mount w as l eft i n t he f eeding b owl o vernight. A fter 2 4 h ours a ny r emaining f ish b ones w ere c ollected, w ashed a nd l abelled ' rejected'. F aeces w ere c ollected f or t he f ollowing s even d ays a s t he d og t ook i ts t wice d aily w alks. B ones w ere c ollected b y w ashing t he f aeces o n 5 00 m icron a perture m eshes i n a c ontinuous f low o f h ot w ater. T he a ir d ried r esidues w ere s orted f or f ish b ones. M an T he

m an

a te

a g rilled

t raditionally-smoked

N orth

S ea

h erring

( kipper). A ll b ones w ere s wallowed, a lthough t hey h ad b een t horoughly c hewed. F aeces w ere c ollected f or t he f ollowing s even d ays. I n o rder t o e stablish t hat a ll f ish r esidues h ad p assed t hrough t he g ut, m arker f oods s weet c orn a nd o live s tones w ere s wallowed d uring t he p eriod o f t he e xperiment. T o e xtract t he b ones, t he f aeces w ere t horoughly s tirred i n a b ucket o f w ater a nd w ashed o nto 5 00 m icron a perture m eshed s ieves. T he p rocess w as r epeated u ntil a ll f aecal c omponents w ere c ompletely d isaggregated w hereupon t he r esidues w ere a ir d ried a nd -

-

s orted f or f ish b ones.

5 4

J ONES:

F ISH B ONE S URVIVAL I N D IGESTIVE S YSTEMS

T HE R ESULTS F igure 1 g ives d etails f or t he e xperiment w ith t he d og a nd t he p ig. T hese g raphs s how t he t ime p eriod d uring w hich f ish w ere i ngested ( feed) a nd t he t ime t he b ones a ppeared i n f aeces. I n a ddition, s mall v ertical a rrows s how t he t imes f aeces w ere p assed ( dog) o r c ollected ( pig). F or t he d og e ach s tool w as e xamined s eparately s o t he n umber o f b one f ragments ( identifiable a nd u nidentified s ummed t ogether) i s p resented f or e ach s tool. T his w as n ot p racticable f or t he p ig b ecause i t d efecated s everal t imes a day. F or t he p ig a ll t he f aeces f or e ach d ay w ere c ombined a nd b ones e xtracted d aily. F igure 2 i s b ased o n t he c ombined r esults f rom t he c urrent s uite o f e xperiments a nd t hose g iven i n J ones ( 1984). F igure 2 A s hows t he ' major' s keletal e lements o f f ish a nd t he t otal n umbers o f e ach e lement i ngested. F igure 2B s hows h ow m any o f t hose i ngested ' major' e lements w ere c ollected i n a r ecognizable f orm f rom f aeces. T he b one d rawings i n t his f igure a re l oosely b ased o n t hose f ound i n a g adid s kull. T he h addock o toliths a re p articularly i nteresting. B oth w ere f ound i n t he d og f aeces. T he o toliths s howed c lear s igns o f d igestion. T he t ypical k nobbly v entral s urface s culpturing w as n ot a pparent a nd t he e ntire s urface b ore a d istinctly p olished a ppearance. T he o toliths w ere n ot t he s ame s ize a fter p assage t hrough t he g ut. O ne m easured 1 1.5 b y 4 .6 m m , t he o ther 8 .8 b y 3 .9 m m . T he l arger w as r ecognizable a s a h addock E rosion

o tolith, t he o ther c ould b e a ssigned t o t he f amily G adidae. h ad r educed t he l arger o tolith b y a t l east 2 m m, m aking s ize

e stimation b ased o n o tolith l ength v ery i naccurate. A lthough

t hese

e xperiments

w ere

n ot

c arried

o ut

u nder

c ontrolled

l aboratory c onditions t here i s l ittle c hance t hat a ny f aeces c ontaining f ish b ones w ere n ot e xamined. T here i s n o c hance t hat a ny b ones w ere l ost f rom t he h uman f aeces a nd e very r easonable e ffort w as m ade t o e nsure t hat n one w ere l ost f rom t he p ig o r d og f aeces. O verall, l ess t han 1 0% o f t he i ngested b ones s urvived p assage t hrough t he a nimals' d igestive s ystems ( Table 2 ). S ome o f t he v ertebrae t hat d id s urvive w ere c rushed i n a m anner i dentical t o t he a rchaeol ogical s pecimens. O thers s howed n o d istinctive s igns o f h aving p assed t hrough a m ammalian d igestive s ystem. T hese e xperiments h ave i mportant i mplications f or t hose w orking o n f ish r emains f rom a rchaeological s ites. T he m ost o bvious i s t hat a l arge n umber o f b ones f rom m edium-sized f ish ( 24 t o 3 5 c m t otal l ength) a re l ikely t o h ave b een l ost t o t he a rchaeological r ecord w hen m an o r o ther a nimals l iving o n o r n ear t he s ite a te f ish. G reat c are m ust b e e xercised w hen a ttempting t o a ssess t he r elative i mportance o f d ifferent f ish s pecies, e ven o n s ites w here a n e xtensive s ieving p rogramme h as p roduced a ssemblages o f s mall b ones. F ish b ones c ollected f rom a s ite w here s cavengers h ave h ad a ccess t o r ubbish d eposits c an o nly f orm a s mall a nd p ossibly v ery b iased s ample o f t he b ones b rought o nto t he s ite.

5 5

J ONES:

F ISH B ONE S URVIVAL I N D IGESTIVE S YSTEMS

C learly m ore w ork n eeds t o b e c arried o ut b efore a n a ccurate p icture c an b e e stablished o f t he s urvival p otential o f e ach b one o f t he s pecies r epresented i n a rchaeological d eposits.

N ote: S ince t hese e xperiments w ere c arried o ut i t h as b een e stablished t hat r ats R attus n orvegicus ( Berk.) w ill e at f ishbones. T hree l aborat ory r ats, s tarved f or 2 4 h ours, w ere e ach f ed t he b ones a nd s kin o f a k ipper ( Clupea h arengus). T he r ats a te t he h ead b ones a nd t he v erteb rae. N o i dentifiable f ragments w ere r ecovered f rom f aeces. F ull d etails o f t his e xperiment w ill h e p resented e lsewhere.

A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS T hese e xperiments c ould n ot h ave b een c arried o ut w ithout t he k ind c o-operation o f t he a nimals' o wners, w ho n ot o nly a llowed t heir c harges t o e at f ish, b ut w ho a lso n obly a ssisted w ith t he u npleasant t ask o f c ollecting f aeces. I n t his r espect I e xpress m y s incerest t hanks t o J udith M orrison, G erry H allom, S uki T hompson, a nd D oug H ood. I n a ddition, a nd i n s pite o f t heir i nability t o r ead, I a cknowledge t he e ssential p arts S ally a nd M arilyn p layed i n t hese e xperiments. Ia lso w ish t o a cknowledge t he f orbearance o f m y c olleagues i n t he E nvironmental A rchaeology U nit w ho t olerated s ome u npleasant o dours a s t he b ones w ere e xtracted f rom f aeces. T hey a lso m ade h elpful s uggestio ns o n t he e arly d rafts o f t his p aper. J effrey M aytom c arefully d rafted F igures 1 a nd 2 . T he H istoric B uildings a nd M onuments C ommission f or E ngland l argely f unded t he e xcavations a nd p ost-excavation w ork f or t he 1 6-22 C oppergate s ite.

R EFERENCES • J ones, A .K.G. ( 1984). S ome e ffects o f t he m ammalian s ystem o n f ish b ones. pp. 6 1-65. I n: D esse-Berset, N . ( ed.) o s eoarchaeology m eeting.

C .N.R.S.

C entre d e R echerches A rchdologiques

N otes e t M onographies T echniques N o.

1 6.

.K.G. ( forthcoming). J ones, A 1 6-22 C oppergate, Y ork.

P arasite

f rom

d igestive 2 1' f ish

o va

f rom

e xcavations

a t

O 'Connor, T .P. ( 1983). I nternal s ummary r eport o n m ammal b ones " Viking A ge" p its a t 1 6-22 C oppergate Y ork. A ncient M onuments

L aboratory R eport N o.

4 036.

5 6

T able 1 . P ig

D og

M arilyn

S ally

M ammal

N ame

S pecies i ngested T otal l ength ( cm) G utted w eight ( g)

H erring

M ackerel

2 5.5

A ndrew

H addock

2 7.3

3 5.5

1 50

H erring

M an

3 2.5

1 40

3 70

H erring

2 4

1 35

2 60

T able 2 .

H erring

S pecies i ngested A pprox.

M an

D og

P ig

M ammal

M ackerel

H erring

H addock

H erring

n umber

o f ' major' e lements i ngested B ones r ejected N umber i dentifiable f ragments i n f aeces N umber u nidentifiable f ragments i n f aeces

8 0

5 0

8 0

0

0

0

7

7

9

7 5

6

1 0

1 9

4

8 0

0

2

1 3

nd ertebrae, m ost s kull a lements i nclude a ll v ' major' e tc. ays, i ntermuscular b ones e ut n ot r ibs, f in r c ranial e lements b

N ote:

5 7

9 8 7 U ) H

z ' Sa l ly '

1

2

3

f eed F igure 1 :

G raphs s howing

a nd p ig ( ' Marilyn ' o f r ecognizable

1 )

1 55

f lf =

3 8

5

6

f aeces d uring i ngestion e xperiments. =

s hows t he

n1

=

9

=

1 )

t he a pproximate n umber

t otal n umber o f f ragments

r ecovered f rom f aeces; n r

f eed'

8

o f b one f ragments r ecovered f rom d og ('S ally '

b ones f ed t o e ach a nimal; n f aeces.

7

DAYS

t he n umber

f iable a nd u nidentifiable) r ecovered f rom

n1 =

1 9

I

4

1

( both i denti -

n umber o f r ecognizable f ragments

p eriod o f t ime t he f ishes w ere a vailable f or

i ngestion.

5 8

1 1 0 9 ' C l )

8

F - 7 z L U

' Ma r i lyn ' 1 n = 1 30

< 5' I

L L

f lf =

1 8

4 1 4

3 2 1 ' 2

1

4 4 4 H

f eed

3

4

4 4

5

4 4

DAYS

6

4 4

7

4

4

4= f aeces c o l lec ted

5( )

i dentifiable a )

0

0

a )

a ) u

C L )

c a

o

I -

U

+ 4

4 J

( 1 )

a )

0 0

t

a )

6 0

a )

c eratohyal;

0

6 1

s ubopercular

o tolith;

P as

F ISH B ONES I N L ATE M ESOLITHIC H UMAN G RAVES A T S KATEHOLM, S WEDEN.

S CANIA,

S OUTH

L eif J onsson C entral

O ffice o f N ational A ntiquities B ox 1 0259 S -434 0 1 K ungsbacka 1 S weden

K eywords: S OUTH S CANDINAVIA, C ONTENTS,

R ITUAL F OOD,

S KATEHOLM , M ESOLITHIC,

F ISH B ONES,

S TOMACH

T APEWORMS.

I NTRODUCTION T hrough v ery c areful e xvacation f ish b ones h ave b een f ound i n s everal h uman g raves o n t he M esolithic s ites S kateholm I a nd S kateholm I I i n t he p rovince o f S cania i n s outhern S weden ( Larsson, 1 984a, 1 984b). T he S kateholm s ites ( I, I I a nd I II) c onsist o f a s eries o f s ettlements a nd c orresponding c emeteries. T hey w ere s ituated o n t he s hores o f a b rackish l agoon n ext t o t he s outhern c oast o f S cania ( Figure l a, b ). T he s ettlements a nd g raves b elong t o t he l ater p hase o f t he s o-called E rteb lle c ulture. R adiocarbon d atings i ndicate t hat t he l agoon a rea w as i nhabited f or n early a m illennium , f rom 6 910 ± 7 0 ( LU-2114) t o 5 850 ± 9 0 ( LU-2156) B P. D uring t his p eriod t he s ea s hore w as s ubject t o a s eries o f t ransgressions a nd t he s ettlements w ere s uccessively m oved t o h igher l evels. T he b rackish l agoon w as p rotected f rom t he s ea b y t he b each r idges a long t he c oast, a nd i t r emained i n e xistence t hanks t o t he r ising o f t he r idges d uring t ransgression. T he d atings h ave s hown t hat S kateholm I I i s t he o ldest s ite a nd i t w as f ollowed b y S kateholm I a nd S kateholm I II s uccessively.

M ETHODS F ish b ones a nd b ones o f o ther s mall a nimals w ere s pecially l ooked f or. T he m aterial i n t he g raves w as s ieved t hrough a 5 m m m esh. M oreover, s amples w ere t aken a t d ifferent p laces i n e ach g rave a nd s ieved t hrough a 1 m m m esh t o f ind s mall b ones a nd t o f ind o ut w hether t he b ones w ere d istributed a t r andom o r n ot. W hen c oncentrations o f f ish b ones w ere o bserved b y e ye, t he e xcavator s ieved t he s oil t hrough a 1m m m esh f or a s l ong a s f ish b ones w ere f ound. I n 3 3 o ut o f 8 3 h uman g raves f ish b ones w ere p resent. T he m ajority o f t hese f ish h ones a re i nterpreted a s o riginating f rom t he s urrounding c ulture l ayer w hich w as c ut t hrough w hen t he g rave-pit w as d ug o ut. I n 1 3 g raves, w hich w ill h e d escribed h ere, t he f ishbones a re i nterpreted a s t races o f t he c eremonies t hat w ere h eld d uring t he i nterment o f t he b ody, o r a s t races o f t he l ast m eal e aten b y t he b uried i ndividual, d epending o n t he p osition i n w hich t he f ish b ones w ere f ound.

6 2

J ONSSON:

FIS H B ONES

I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES

I n a ll g raves t he s o il f rom t he ' stomach a rea' w as c arefully s ieved. W hen n o p ost-mortem d isturbances c ould b e o bserved i n t his a rea, a ny f ish b ones f ound t here a re i nterpreted a s f ishes t hat h ad b een e aten. T he

S katehoim

c emeteries

a lso

c ontain

s everal

d og

b urials,

b oth

s eparate a nd t ogether w ith h umans. U nfortunately n o ' stomach a rea' d og w as s pecially s ieved f or s mall b ones. O ne c oprolite, p robably d og,

o f o f

c ontains a f ew f ragments o f c yprinid b ones. B ones

f rom m ammals,

b irds,

r eptiles a nd a nurans a lso o ccur

i n t he

g raves, b oth a s p art o f t he i nterment, p art o f t he c ulture l ayer, o r a s l ater i ntrusions. T hese b ones w ill b e d ealt w ith i n f orthcoming r eports o n t he g raves a nd o n t he f auna f rom t he S kateholm s ettlements.

T HE S PECIES T he f ollowing f ish s pecies h ave b een i dentified: F amily F amily F amily F amily F amily

L amnidae A nguillidae C lupeidae E socidae C yprinidae

F amily G ad , idae F amily G asterosteidae F amily P ercidae F amily S combridae F amily S cophthalmidae F amily P leuronectidae

L amna n asus A nguilla a nguilla C lupea h arengus E sox l ucius T inca t inca A bramis b rama

p orbeagle e el h erring p ike t ench b ream s ilver B licca b loerkna b ream L euciscus i dus i de R utilus r utilus r oach S cardinius e rythrophthalmus r udd G adus m orhua c od G asterosteus a culeatus s tickleb ack P erca f luviatilis p erch S comber s combrus m ackerel t urbot , / P setta m aximal ( Scophthalmus r hombus) ( brill) P leuronectes p latessa/ p laice/ P iatichthys f lesus f lounder

T HE G RAVES I n t he f ollowing d escription o f t he g raves w ill o nly b e r eferred t o b y t he g eneric n ame.

6 3

t he

d ifferent

s pecies

J ONSSON:

F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES

S katehoim I '

G rave 4 ,

w oman,

4 0-50 y ears ( Figure 2 ).

I n t he p elvic r egion:

R utilus

C yprinidae

G asterosteus

*

G rave 6 ,

w oman,

3 5-40 y ears ( Figure 3 ).

I n t he p elvic r egion:

*

G rave 7 , m an?,

A bramis R utilus/Scardinius C yprinidae

A nguilla C i lupea

4 v ertebra f ragments 7v ertebra f ragments ( 1 a tlas f rom a n i ndividual c aught i n t he w armer h alf o f t he y ear) 1l oose t ooth f rom d entary, 1 p arietal

E sox

I n t he f illing:

C lupea E sox C yprinidae P erca U nidentified

I n t he

1r ib 1p recaudal v ertebra 2 p recaudal v ertebrae ( 2 i ndividuals)

3 0-40 y ears ( Figure 4 ).

B y t he f eet:

G rave 2 4,

1b asioccipitale a nd 6 c audal v ertebrae ( from a t l east 3 i ndividuals o f d ifferent s ize) 1a rticular, 1 s capula a nd 4 f in-rays 3 d orsal s pines, 3 b asipterygium f ragments

w oman,

6 v ertebra f ragments 1a rticular 2v ertebra f ragments 1v ertebra f ragment 1c audal v ertebra, 1d orsal s pine 1r ib f ragment

a round 5 0 y ears ( Figure 5 ).

' stomach a rea': B licca

R utilus

C yprinidae

6 4

4 p haryngeal b ones, 2 p recaudal a nd 1 c audal v ertebrae 1p haryngeal b one, 2 p recaudal a nd 4 c audal v ertebrae 1v ertebra f ragment

J ONSSON:

F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC C RAVES

( Grave 2 4)

P erca

1a rticular, 1 p reoperculum f ragment, 1 c leithrum f ragment, 1a tlas, 2 p recaudal a nd 2 c audal v ertebrae ( + s mall f ragments o f m ammalian s pongious t issue)

A long t he v entral s ide o f t he l ower m iddle p art o f t he v ertebral c olumn: E sox B licca

*

C rave 2 5,

I n t he

w oman,

1v ertebra f ragment 1p haryngeal b one ( + s mall f ragments o f m ammalian p ongious t issue)

3 0-40 y ears.

' stomach a rea':

R utilus

1p recaudal v ertebra

I n t he s keletal l evel: R utilus C yprinidae

G rave 3 3,

m an,

5 5-60 y ears ( Figure 6 ).

B etween t he j aws:

I n t he

1p recaudal v ertebra 1p haryngeal b one f ragment, 3 v ertebra f ragments

R utilus P erca

1p haryngeal b one 1v ertebra f ragment

' stomach a rea': C lupea E sox S cardinius C yprinidae

P erca P latichihys P le urone tes ( + V ipera c f. b erus ( Reptil j a)) D ark a rea o n l eft s ide o f t he b ody:

1 1 v ertebra f ragments 2 s mall v ertebrae 1p haryngeal b one f ragment 1p haryngeal b one f ragment, 9 v ertebra f ragments 1p recaudal a nd 3 c audal v ertebrae ertebra f ragment 1v 1v ertebra f ragment ( 1

v ertebra f ragment)

9 v ertebra f ragments 1c audal v ertebra 1p haryngeal b one f ragment, 1 c audal v ertebra

C iupea E sox R utilus

6 5

JONSSON: FISH BONES IN MESOLITHIC GRAVES (Grave 33)

Cyprinidae Perea

Platichthys Pleuronectes

12 vertebra fragments 1 atlas, 2 precaudal vertebrae, 7 caudal vertebrae, 1 verte­ bra fragment 1 caudal vertebra 1 caudal vertebra

Under the body:

20 vertebrae 1 basioccipitale, 1 tooth from palatine Rutilus 3 pharyngeal bones, 4 caudal vertebra fragments Cyprinidae 1 pharyngeal bone, 22 vertebra fragments, 3 ribs 1 maxillary, 9 Perea --vertebra fragments, 1 dorsal spine (+ Vipera cf. berus (Reptilia)) (1 vertebra fragment)

in the filling:

Anguilla Clupea

Clupea Esox

2 precaudal vertebrae 2 precaudal and 1 caudal vertebrae, larger than the rest of the herrings in the grave 1 premaxillary, 3 dentaries, 2 quadrates, 2 ectopterygoids, 1 palatine, 4 cleithra, 31 vertebra fragments (5 charred) 2 vertebra fragments 1 pharyngeal bone, 7 caudal vertebrae 3 premaxillaries, 2 quadrates, 2 bisioccipitales, 1 cleithrum, 5 dorsal spines, 1 pelvic spine, 2 atlas, 73 precaudal and 82_ caudal vertebrae

Esox

Tinca Abramis Perea· ---

66

J ONSSON: F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES *

G rave 3 5,

w oman,

I n t he r egion o f t he f eet:

3 0-40 y ears ( Figure 7 ). A nguilla C lupea E sox B licca R utilus S cardinius C yprinidae P erch U nidentified

I n t he f illing:

A nguilla C lupea E sox

A bramis L euciscus R utilus C yprinidae P erca *

G rave 3 7, w oman,

B ehind t he h ead:

1c audal v ertebra Sv ertebra f ragments 2v ertebra f ragments 1p haryngeal h one, 1 0 v ertebra f ragments 2p haryngeal b ones, 7v ertebra f ragments 2p haryngeal b ones, 2v ertebra f ragments 3 0 v ertebra f ragments 1p terotic, 3 v ertebra f ragments 5 0 r ib a nd f in-ray f ragments 1v ertebra f ragment 4v ertebra f ragments 1t ooth f rom t he d entary, 1 v ertebra f ragment 1v ertebra f ragment 1v ertebra f ragment 7v ertebra f ragments 2 7 v ertebra f ragments, 1 r ib Sv ertebra f ragments

4 0-50 y ears ( Figure 8 ). A nguilla C lupea E sox B licca

R utilus

C yprinidae

2p recaudal a nd 4 c audal v ertebrae 3 p recaudal v ertebrae 1a rticular ( from a 1 7 c m l ong i ndividual) 1 1 p haryngeal b ones, 1 0 p recaudal a nd 2 0 c audal v ertebrae ( 10 c m l ong f ishes) 1c harred c audal v ertebra ( 15 c m l ong f ish) 6 p haryngeal b ones, 1 4 p recaudal a nd 7c audal v ertebrae ( 10 c m l ong f ishes) 2 5 v ertebra f ragments

P ercä

1p reoperculum , 1o perculum, 3 p recaudal a nd 3 c audal v ertebrae ( 1 w ith r ed o chre),

F ossil

1s hark t ooth

8 d orsal s pines

6 7

J ONSSON: *

G rave 4 3,

F TSH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES

w oma n, a dult.

I n t he p elvic

r egion:

P erca

2 p recaudal v ertebrae

S katehoim I I

*

G rave I I,

I n t he

m an,

2 5-30 y ears.

' stomach a rea': P erca U nidentified

G rave I X,

w oman,

1v ertebra f ragment 1f ragment

a round 3 0 y ears ( Figure 9 ).

N ext t o t he r ight s houlder:

A nguilla G asterosteus

O n t he l eft s houlder:

A nguilla

C lupea E sox A bramis R utilus

C yprinidae G asterosteus

P erca

P leuronectidae ( + M icrotus s p. ( Rodentia))

6 8

1c audal v ertebra f ragment 1v ertebra f ragment, 1p elvic s pine 1d entary f ragment, 1h yomandibular, 6 c audal v ertebrae 1p recaudal a nd 1c audal v ertebra 1a ngular, 1 t ooth f rom p alatine 1p recaudal a nd 1c audal v ertebra 1p haryngeal b one, 1o s m aileus ( from ' Weberian a pparatus'), 1 0 p recaudal a nd 5 c audal v ertebrae 8 v ertebra f ragments 3 4 d orsal s pines, 5 0 l eft, 7 1 r ight a nd 2 5 f ragmentary b asipterygia, 2 73 l eft a nd 2 95 r ight p elvic s pines 1a tlas, 7 p recaudal a nd 4 c audal v ertebrae, 1f in-ray a nd 1d orsal s pine 1p recaudal a nd 2 c audal v ertebrae ( femur f ragment)

J ONSSON: B etween t he

l egs:

F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES A nguilla

2 p recaudal a nd 2c audal v ertebrae 3p recaudal v ertebra f ragments 1p recaudal a nd 4 c audal v ertebrae 1p haryngeal b one,

C lupea B licca? R utilus

F rom s keletal l evel:

S cardinius C yprinidae

1 2

G adus G asterosteus

1 2

A nguilla

3 p recaudal a nd 1c audal v ertebra 1t ooth, 1 a rticular, 1c leithrum, 1b asioccipital, 1p recaudal a nd 3 c audal v ertebrae 1c audal v ertebra 1p recaudal a nd

E sox

A bramis B licca L euciscus R utilus C yprinidae G adus P erca S cophthalmus U nidentified I n t he f illing:

5 p recaudal a nd 3 c audal v ertebrae p haryngeal b one v ertebra f ragments, 1r ib p recaudal v ertebra d orsal s pines, 2 9 l eft a nd 2 1 r ight b asipterygia, 3 4 l eft a nd 2 7 r ight p elvic s pines

A nguilla E sox

A bramis B licca c f. S cardinius C yprinidae G adus . P erca

P leuronectidae S cophthalmidae 6 9

4 c audal v ertebrae 1c audal v ertebra 1p haryngeal b one 1v ertebra f ragment, 1r ib 2p recaudal v ertebrae 5 p recaudal v ertebrae, 1v ertebra f ragment 1p recaudal v ertebra 1 0 f in-rays 1p recaudal v ertebra 3 d entaries, 1p recaudal a nd 4 c audal v ertebrae 3 c audal v ertebrae 2c audal v ertebrae 1p recaudal v ertebra 2v ertebra f ragments 2 p recaudal v ertebrae 1a tlas, 8 p recaudal a nd 5 c audal v ertebrae 1a tlas f ragment, 3 c audal v ertebrae 1a tlas f ragment

J ONSSON: ( Grave

T X)

F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES U nidentified

2 v ertebrae f ragments, 1f in-ray

( + B ufo b ufo ( Anura))

( 1 h umerus f ragment)

G rave X V, m an, a bout 2 5 y ears ( Figure 1 0). I n t he p elvic r egion:

A nguilla E sox R utilus G asterosteus

P erca B etween t he k nees:

R utilus C yprinidae G asterosteus

D ark a rea i n w .

p art:

N ext t o t he f eet:

2 p recaudal v ertebrae 2v ertebra f ragments, 1r ib 8 p elvic s pines

C yprinidae L amna

1t ooth

E sox

1v ertebra f ragment 1 0 p elvic s pines 1p arasphenoid, 1a rticular, 5 v ertebrae 1f irst p ectoral f in-ray

T inca c f. A bramis R utilus S cardinius C yprinidae G adus G asterosteus P erca S comber P setta m axima G rave X VII,

v ertebra f ragments v ertebra f ragments v ertebra f ragments c leithra, 2 1 l eft a nd 3 0 r ight p elvic s pines 2v ertebra f ragments

1p haryngeal b one, 5 p recaudal v ertebrae 3 v ertebra f ragments

R utilus

A nguilla G asterosteus I n t he f illing:

3 2 5 5

1 1 1 2

c audal v ertebra p recaudal v ertebra p haryngeal b one v ertebra f ragments, 1r ib 2c audal v ertebrae 1 0 p elvic s pines 1p recaudal v ertebra 1v ertebra f ragment 1a tlas

m an, a round 2 0 y ears ( Figure 1).

I n t he p elvic r egion:

I n t he f illing:

A nguilla G adus

7v ertebra f ragments 1p remaxillary

P leuronectidae

1u rohyal, 1a rticular, 1h yomandibular

F ossil s hark

1t ooth

7 0

J ONSSON: F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES O f t he 1 3 g raves l isted a bove s even h ave f ish b ones i n t he p elvic r egion, s ix h ave c oncentrations o f f ish b ones a t o ne o r m ore s pots n ear t he b ody, a nd t hree g raves h ave f ish b ones b oth i n t he p elvic r egion a nd a t t he s ide o f t he b ody. F rom T able 1 i t i s c lear t hat t here a re g reat s imilarities b etween s tomach c ontents a nd o ther f ish b ones w hen b oth o ccur i n t he s ame g rave. A lso t he s ize a nd a natomical r epresentation s how s imilar p atterns. I n n one o f t he g raves c an t he f ish b ones b e i nterpreted a s r epresenting i ntact, w hole f ishes t hat w ere p laced n ext t o t he d ead. ( An e xample o f c omplete f ish s keletons i n a g rave i s k nown f rom a M iddle N eolithic g rave o n t he i sland o f G otland i n t he B altic S ea. H ere t hree h errings w ere p laced a bove t he h ead o f a 1 8-20 y ear o ld w oman ( Janzon, 1 974: 2 75)). I n S katehoim i t i s c lear t hat f ish t hat h ad b een p laced n ext t o t he d ead, w ere i n t he f orm o f a s tew o r c howder. T he c omposition o fthe s tew v aried. U p t o e ight s pecies c ould b e p resent. F rom t he a natomical r epresentation a nd s ize d istribution o f t he f ishes i t s eems t hat w hat w e f ound w as o nly a p art o f t he o riginal s tew, t hat i s i f w e s uppose t hat w hole f ishes w ere p art o f t he i ngredients. F rom a f ind o f a f ood c rust i nside a p ot a t t he s ite o f T ybrind V ig i n D enmark, w hich w as c ontemporaneous w ith S katehoim, i t i s c lear t hat f ishes w ere c ooked w hole w ith h ead a nd f ins ( TrolleLassen, 1 984: 1 38). I f i t i s t rue t hat w hole f ishes w ere u sed, t hen t he g reater p art o f t he r itual ( ? ) m eal m ust h ave b een e aten b y t he r elatives o f t he d eceased w ith o nly a s mall p art p ut i n t he g rave. I n t he c ase o f s ticklebacks i n g rave I X o f S katehoim I I i t i s n ot c ompletely c lear i f t he b ones r epresent w hole f ishes. B ecause o f t heir s mall s ize, m any b ones c ould h ave p assed t hrough t he 1 m m m esh, b ut a s n o c leithra o r f rontalia w ere f ound i t i s p ossible t hat t he h ead p art h ad b een c ut o ff b eforehand. I n s ome g raves t he n umber o f b ones i n t he s tomach a rea o r p elvic r egion w as v ery l ow. T his d oes n ot c ontradict t he i nterpretation o f t hem a s r emains o f s tomach c ontents. J ones ( 1984: 6 3) h as s hown t hat m ost o f t he b ones d isappear w hen w hole h errings a re e aten. M ost o f t he f ishes i dentified i n t he S katehoim s tomach a reas w ere s maller i n s ize t han a n o rdinary B altic h erring a t t hat t ime, i .e. 1 0-20 c m . T herefore t he f ind o f j ust a f ew b ones i n s ome i nstances i s i n a ccordance w ith t he r esults o f J ones. T he s pecies c omposition s hows t hat f ishes o f d ifferent b iotopes a nd s alinity t olerance o ccur t ogether i n t he g raves. O f a ll t he i dentified s pecies o nly t he p orbeagle s hould b e e xcluded f rom t he l ist o f p ossible s tew i ngredients. S hark t eeth, f ossil a nd s ubfossil, o ccur a s o bjects p ut i nto t he g rave f or o ther r easons. ( Calcified v ertebra c entra o f t he p orbeagle w ere f ound i n t he c ulture l ayer.) H erring i s t he o nly s pecies w hich s trictly s peaking s hould h ave b een c aught o utside t he l agoon i n t he s ea, b ut o ccasional b reakthroughs o f t he b each r idges b y t he s ea c ould h ave m ade i t p ossible f or h erring t o e nter t he l agoon i n g reater n umbers. T he r est o f t he f ish s pecies h ad a s uitable h abitat i n t he l agoon, b ut a s t hey h ave d ifferent e cological n iches, a nd w ere u sing d ifferent p arts o f t he l agoon h abitat, t hey m ust h ave b een c aught a t d ifferent t imes a nd p laces w ith a ppropriate m ethods. I t c annot b e e xcluded t hat d ifferent s pecies w ere c aught a t d ifferent t imes o f t he y ear. I f s o, f ish o f s ome s pecies c ould h ave 7 1

J ONSSON:

F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES

b een p reserved d uring p eriods o f g reat a bundance f or l ater c onsumption. T he p ossibility o f u sing c ertain f ish s pecies, o r g rowth p atterns i n t he b ones, f or t he d etermination o f t he s eason w hen t he i nterments t ook p lace i s s eriously l imited i f s uch p reservation p ractices w ere i n u se. T he r elatively h igh n umber o f g raves w ith f ish r emains i n t he s tomach a rea s hows t he h igh d ependance o n f ish f or f ood. C arbon' 3 m easurements o n t he h uman s keleton a lso s how t hat a s ubstantial p art o f t he p roteins i n t he f ood o f t he E rteb ile p eople w as o f m arine o r e stuarine o rigin ( Tauber, 1 981). M any o f t he h uman s keletons a lso h ave a t hickening o f t he c ranial v ault. T he h istological i nvestigation o f t he b one t issue i n t his p art o f t he s kull s hows t hat t he t hickening w as d ue t o a h ypertrophy o f t he s pongious l ayer ( diplo ). T he r eason f or t his w as p robably a c hronic a nemia, w hich l ed t o a n i ncrease o f t he e rythrocyte p roducing r ed b one m arrow. I n a dults t his i s m ainly a ccomplished b y i ncrease o f t he m arrow i n t he s kull v ault a nd t he r ibs ( J$rgen B alslev J $rgensen, p ers. c omm.). T he r eason f or t he a nemia w as p robably i nfestation w ith t he t apeworm D iphyllobothrium l atum w hich h ad e xcellent l iving c onditions i n t he l agoon f ringed w ith h uman h abitations, w ith f reshwater f ish, s uch a s p ike, b eing o ne o f i ts i ntermediate h osts ( Nichols a nd C ook, 1 971).

A CKNOWLEDGEMENT T he t ext w as c orrected b y M s.

S .

v an G elder-Ottway B .Sc.

R EFERENCES J anzon, G .O. ( 1974). G otlands m ellanneolitiska g ravar. N orth-European A rchaeology 6 ( English s ummary). S tockholm.

S tudies

i n

J ones, A .K.G. ( 1984). S ome e ffects o f t he m ammalian d igestive s ystem o n f ish b ones. I n: N . D esse-Berset ( ed.), 2mes R encontres d 'Arch o-ichthyologie. C .N.R.S./Paris, pp. 6 1-65. L arsson, L . ( 1984a). T he S katehoim P roject. A L ate M esolithic s ettlement a nd c emetery c omplex a t a S outhern S wedish b ay. P apers o f t he A rchaeological I nstitute U niversity o f L und 1 983-1984, N ew S eries 5 ,

p p.

5 -38.

L arsson, L . ( 1984b). G r1berfelder u nd S iedlungen d es S p tmesol ithikums b ei S katehoim, S t ldschonen, S chweden. A rch ologisches K orresp o r idenzblatt 1 4, p p. U3-130. N ichols,

D .S.

& A .L.

C ooke

b rates. O xford U niversity P ress, T auber,

H .

( 1981).

1 3C

m an i n D enmark. N ature 2 92,

( 1971).

T he

O xford

B ook

e vidence f or d ietary h abits o f p p.

o f

I nverte-

L ondon.

3 32-333.

7 2

p rehistoric

J ONSSON:

F ISH B ONES I N M ESOLITHIC G RAVES

T rolle Lassen, T . ( 1984). A p reliminary r eport o n t he a rchaeol ogical a nd z oological e vidence o f f ish e xploitation f rom a s ubmerged s ite i n m esolithic D enmark. I n: N . D esse-Berset ( ed.), T hmes R encontres d 'Arch o-ichthyologie. C .N.R.S./Paris, pp. 1 33-143.

7 3

7 4

F igure l a: T he s ituation o f t he S katehoim s ites n ear t he s outhern t ip o f S weden.

f S katehoim I , F igure i b: T he l ocation o c oastline ( dotted)

he a nd t

I I a nd I II. T he d etailed m ap s hows

h ypothetical o utlines

t he p resent

o f t he l agoon a nd t he c oastal b each

he L ittorina-stage o f t he B altic S ea. T he r idge d uring a p hase o f t

s ea l evel

w as t hen

evel. U nnumbered d ots r epresent M esolithic s ites n ot y et e xca3 -5 m a bove t he p resent l v ate t h

7 5

E xplanation t o f igures 2 -11: T he f ish b one c oncentrations a re i ndicated a s s haded a reas.

2 : G rave

1 #,

w oman, L O-5O y ears

i n s itting p osition.

( ? )‚ 3 0L fO y ears.

A ll f igures a re i n v ertical p rojection.

I 7 6

7 7 l aying o n h is f ace .

>
45 c m S L)

1

6

n

T ilapia ( 15-30 c m S L)

M edium

r - C ‚ 4 . 4 0 0'

C larias ( >75 c m S L)

0 ' 4

I

4 -. c ' 1c 0

L arge

4

V ery l arge

4 0

Table 2 . P ercentage f requencies o f C larias a nd T ilapia i n t he d iff ( Small s ample f rom s ite E 8 1-3 n ot i ncluded)

0

8 5.83 2 7.82 3 6.89

m « e n 0 C4 0 4

2 12 2 ,285 4 ,236

9 9.30 9 9.28 9 4.24 8 6.58

( I

3 ,100 5 3,015 1 2,294 5 ,853

n

C larias c f. g ariepinus

Table 1 . A bsolute a nd p ercentage f requencies o f f ish a t s ome o f t he W adi K ubbaniya s ites.

I i •

a )

4 U )

C larias (