Animals in Saxon & Scandinavian England: Backbones of Economy and Society

Description

In this book an analysis of over 300 animal bone assemblages from English Saxon and Scandinavian sites is presented. The data set is summarised in extensive tables for use as comparanda for future archaeozoological studies. Animals in Saxon and Scandinavian England takes as its core four broad areas of analysis. The first is an investigation of the diet of the population, and how food was used to establish social boundaries. Increasingly diverse diets are recognised, with high-status populations distinguishing themselves from other social sectors through the way food was redistributed and the diversity of taxa consumed. Secondly, the role of animals in the economy is considered, looking at how animal husbandry feeds into underlying modes of production throughout the Saxon period. From the largely self-sufficient early Saxon phase animal husbandry becomes more specialised to supply increasingly urban settlements. The ensuing third deliberation takes into account the foodways and interactions between producer and consumer sites, considering the distribution of food and raw materials between farm, table and craft worker. Fundamental changes in the nature of the Saxon economy distinguish a move away from food renders in the middle Saxon phase to market-based provisioning; opening the way for greater autonomy of supply and demand. Finally, the role of wics and burhs as centres of production is investigated, particularly the organisation of manufacture and provisioning with raw materials. Introduction, Research Questions and Context 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Research Themes in Context: Background and Rationale 1.3 Research Questions Methodology and Introduction to the Data Set 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Data Set 2.3 Site Classification 2.4 Limiting factors 2.5 Species Diversity and Sample Size Problems 2.6 Quantification 2.7 Ageing 2.8 Sexual Dimorphism 2.9 Carcass Parts 2.10 Software Food, Diet and Status 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Livestock, Birds and Game 3.3 Status and the Role of Signature Species: A case study 3.4 Food and Diet 3.5 The Social Divide Animal Husbandry and Economy 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Cattle 4.3 Sheep 4.4 Pigs 4.5 Animal Husbandry 4.6 Modes of Production and the Role of Animals in the Economy Provisioning and Foodways 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Early Saxon Phase 5.3 Middle Saxon Phase 5.4 Late Saxon Phase 5.5 Producers and Consumers? 5.6 Distribution Networks 5.7 Ecclesiastical sites Specialists and Spatial Organisation in Early Urban Contexts 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Wics 6.3 Burhs 6.4 Danish Towns/ Burhs 6.5 Discussion Food, Status and Economy in England A.D. 450-1066 Quantification of Major Taxa (NISP) Presence of the Most Common Wild Birds Presence of Freshwater and Migratory Fish Taxa Presence of Marine Fish Taxa Mortality Profiles Cattle Carcass Part Representation Sheep/ Goat Carcass Part Representation Pig Carcass Part Representation