Ancient Fauna Animals in Antiquity, 26.9.2019 Sources of information •Written sources – mainly encyclopedic accounts •Aristotle – History of Animals (4.ce.BC) •Strabo – Geography (1.ce.AD) •Pliny the Elder – Natural History (1.ce.AD) •Aelian – Characteristics of Animals (3.ce.AD) Images of Animals •Paintings, sculptures, ... Zooarchaeology •The most reliablie – bones (origins, extinctions, distributions, movements, uses, roles) •Verifies if existence, placement and use of animal corresponds to written sources and iconography •New directions (DNA) Ancient Fauna •Common domesticated species (major and minor taxa) •Wild fauna Wild progenitors of domesticated animals •Progenitors of domestic cattle: •Aurochs (Bos primigenius) - exctinct, Bison (Bison bonasus), Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) •Wild sheep and goats – domesticated since Neolithic times, mouflon •Wild boar (Sus scrofa) – hunt, vivaria Marble sarcophagus with boar hunt scene (2.ce.AD, Rome) Major mammalian taxa •Deer (Red deer – Cervus Elaphus, Roe deer – Capreolus capreolus, Fallow deer – Dama dama) •Hare (Brown hare – Lepus europaeus, African hare – Lepus capensis, Mountain hare – Lepus timidus) •European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Eros chasing deer, 4.ce.BC Hare and Birds (4.ce.AD, Antioch) •What is the difference between rabbit and hare? Minor wild animals •Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) •Wolf (Canis lupus) •Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) •Wild cat (Felis sylvestris), Lynx (Lynx lynx) •Hedgehog, Porcupine, Badger, Marten, Stoat Weasel, Polecat •Beaver (Castor fiber) •Bats Bear hunt (3.-4.ce.AD, Baiae) African and Asian Minor Wild Animals •African Wild Ass (Equus africanus) •Egyptian Moongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) •Gazelle Moongoose on a leash at Beni Hassan tomb of Baqet I. (11th Dynasty) https://www.livescience.com/59022-egypt-tomb-with-leashed-mongoose-drawing.html Rats, Mice and other Microfauna •Edible dormice •House mice (Mus musculus) •Black rat (Rattus rattus) Glirarium – fattening jar for dormice https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dormouse-jars-glirarium-rome // recipe - https://www.romanobritain.org/2-arl_food/arl_roman_recipes-dormouse.php // more about the practice - https://sarahemilybond.com/2017/06/06/pass-the-dormice-breeding-selling-and-eating-honeyed-dormice- in-antiquity/ Mouse depicted on „Unswept floor mosaic“ from Rome, 2.ce.AD https://slicesofbluesky.com/unswept-floor-mosaic-from-ancient-rome/ Birds •Diet, hunting, sport, pets, ritual and cult, augury, magic, medicine, folklore... •The most common taxa: fowl (pheasants, partridges, etc.), waterfowl (ducks, geese), pigeons, doves, songbirds Reptiles and amphibians •Infrequently represented in ancient art and texts •Mainly used in medicine and cult practices •Tortoise – shell, meat Lararium from House Vetti, Pompeii http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_art_gallery_08.shtml Fish and Aquatic Animals •Whales •Dolphins Pets •Dogs •Cats •Birds •Snakes •Tamed wild animals • • •https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxlci1d2rOg Dog epitaphs - https://www.thedodo.com/9-touching-epitaphs-ancient-gr-589550486.html