102

Buletin USAMV-CN, 63/2005 (102-105)
ISSN 1454-2382

RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOZOOLOGICAL INVESTIGATINS

CARRIED IN A CIVILIAN BUILDING OF A ROMAN TOWN NAPOC

AND IN A ROMANIAN RURAL SETTLEMENT IN SUCEAGU

VILLAGE (CLUJ COUNTY)

Gudea A., F.Stan, A. Damian, Antonia Socaciu

University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj,

Str. Mănăştur 3-5, Email:[e-mail]

Key words: archaeozoology, archaeofaunal sample, roman fauna, roman town Napoca

Abstract: The present study presents briefly the results of two archaeozoological investigations (as

part of a much more complex study concerning the roman fauna in the province of Dacia) carried on two small
archaeofaunal samples from a civilian building in the roman city of Napoca and another roman rural settlement
from Suceagu village,10 km far from Napoca. These two archaeological sites provided us small samples of
animal bones (below 100 pieces) and the results showed in case of the civilian building in Napoca that the only
species identified is cattle (Bos taurus). A MNI of 2 was established and, based on the osteometrical data, a
height of 111 and 124 cm recalculated (based on the Matolcsi’s formula). Both identified individuals were over
2,5 years old. The sample from the rural settlement from Suceagu is larger, showing the existence of cattle,
capriovids, horse and dog (as domestic species) and roe deer (as game). Statistically, the predominance of cattle
is shown as primary meat-source species, followed by capriovids and horse. Osteometrical data is available in
case of cattle, showing the existence of an male individual with 131 cm high (Matolcsi) and in case of one Ovis
individual of 65 cm high.

INTRODUCTION

Archaeofaunal studies are important both from the point of view of morphological

data that can be extracted from the analysis of the bones from archaeological diggings or in
the light of socio-economic data revealed as part of the economical development of the
society in a certain historical moment

The data presented here is part of a much larger work of the first author, work that

reveals different aspects of animal breeding during roman time in the province of Dacia.

The archaeofaunal samples originate from an archaeological digging carried in 1995-

1996 by dr. Cociş Sorin (Institute of Archaeology Cluj Napoca) as result of the demolition of
the former box club building in the center of Cluj Napoca, near I.L.Caragiale park, V.Deleu
str. Nowadays this location is a touristic objective in the center of Cluj. First diggings
revealed parts of a XI-XII-th century building and in a much deeper layer parts of roman
stone/wood buildings were discovered. The archaeofaunal sample (a small-sized one)
consists of 36 bone fragments from roman time and 130 fragments from XI-XII-th century.

The roman rural settlement from Suceagu was investigated by random diggings in

1995-1997 also under the supervision of dr. Cocis Sorin. The archaeofaunal sample consists

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of 612 bone fragments, of which only 50 identifiable fragments are from roman period, the
other 443 being dated as late IV-th century.

The results presented here comprises only the roman samples from both

archaeological settlements

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The bones were collected during regular archaeological diggings, washed, separately

packed and transported at the Department of Anatomy in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Cluj Napoca.

The archaeozoological investigation consists of anatomical bone separation, specific

identification, separation of non-identifiable material, MNI estimations and age estimation on
the basis of epiphiseal fusion and dental wear and attrition. Also standard osteometrical data
was recorded and, where possible, cut marks and traces of human activity was noted.

RESULTS AND DISCUTIONS

The small-sized sample from Deleu str. is not e representative one, because all

identified bones are attributed to a single species: cattle. For the identified fragments a few
conclusions can be drawn, conclusions that in the light of other biometrical data from other
samples can be useful, but as stand-alone data they are insignificant. As age estimations on
this sample we can conclude that individual(s) was/were over 2,5 years old. It seems that 2
MNI can be estimated because of some bones indicates the age of 2,5 years and other bones
are proof of the existence of a 3,5 years old individual. On the basis of 2 complete
metapodials also a MNI of 2 (most probably females) was established and heights of 1240
and 1109 mm (on the basis of Boessnek’s formula) was calculated.

For the sample from Suceagu much more data can be obtained because the sample is

much larger. The species list and the proportions (both Number of Identified Specimens and
Minimum Number of Individuals) of the bone fragments are shown in the tables below.

Identified species

Domestic species

Bos Taurus

++

Ovis aries

++

Capra hircus

+

Equs cabalus

++

Sus scrofa domesticus

++

Canis familiaris

++

Game species

Capreollus capreollus

++

++ surely identified

+most probably present

Species

NISP % MNI

Cattle

32

64 3

Capriovids

8

16 3

Domestic swine 2

4

Horse

6

12

Dog

2

4

Sum

50

Cattle (Bos taurus)

Because of reduced number of bones no firm conclusions can be drawn. We can

estimate a MNI of 2 or 3. Epiphyseal data shows the existence of 2 individuals older that 2-
2,5 years, out of which one individual may be over 3,5-4 years and possibly another
individual over 2,5 years. The metrical data for one fragmented metatarsal gives us the
possibility of recalculating the shoulder-height. Based on Matolcsi’s formula a height of 1315
mm was estimated. The observed butchery marks are a clear proof of usage as a meat-source.

Capriovids (Ovis et Capra)

Few conclusions can be drawn on the basis of analyzed material. A MNI of 2 or 3 was

estimated (without distinguishing in between species) out of which 1 or 2 individuals older
than 2,5-3 years and another one younger than 18-21 months. One of the mature individuals is
65 cm high (based on the metapodial lenght).

Horse (Equs caballus)

The only supposition we have based on the analyzed bones is that we deal here with

robust individual(s)

CONCLUSIONS

Even tough we dealt here with two small archaeofaunal samples we can draw some

general conclusions, both morphological and socio-economical. Our conclusions are
important as stand-alone statements (biometrical, osteometrical data) but mostly as integrated
data in the frame of other conclusions from contemporary archaeological sites.

One can say that in both cases cattle is the main species, used as meat-source but also

as utilitarian species (draught, secondary products). Next species as numerical importance is
capriovids and domestic swine. The so-called secondary species (horse, dog) were identified
in the Suceagu sample and the observed aspects are not unusual for the roman period. Game
(roe deer in case of Suceagu sample) is poorly present, indicator of reduced interest for
hunting, but proof of existence of this species in surrounding areas.

The morphological data can state that the shoulder-height in case of cattle starts from

110 cm up to 130 cm, sign of the increase of the shoulder-height of cattle as a consequence of
romanisation.

As far as capriovids are concerned, we calculated o single shoulder-height for a mature

individual- 65 cm- value that is in accordance with the increasing values specific for the
roman period.

For domestic swine or horse our data in the case of these two sites is not very relevant.

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