Roman Republican Subsistence Strategies
The Case of Compartment 2 at Castelo Velho de Safara, Portugal
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12371616 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Catarina Ochôa (0009-0000-5520-3217, UNIARQ – Centro de Arqueologia da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal, corresponding author), Rui Monge Soares (0000-0002-4322-7008, UNIARQ – Centro de Arqueologia da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal), Mariana Nabais (0000-0001-5344-237X, UNIARQ – Centro de Arqueologia da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 421-434 |
| Publication date | 2025-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/oa.70036 |
| OpenAlex | W4414031337 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 29 |
This study examines the zooarchaeological remains from Castelo Velho de Safara, southern Portugal, to explore subsistence strategies and economic practices during the Roman Republican occupation. Located on a naturally defensive platform, the site reveals a rich stratigraphic sequence spanning from the Chalcolithic to the early Roman Empire. The analysis of faunal remains recovered from Compartment 2 focuses on taxonomic identification, anatomical representation, age‐at‐death profiles, and bone surface modifications to understand the dietary habits and resource management strategies of its inhabitants. Results indicate a mixed subsistence strategy combining domestic species with significant contributions from wild animals, like red deer and rabbits. Butchery marks, fracture patterns, and burning evidence demonstrate systematic meat processing practices, while the presence of worked astragali and horn artifacts suggests cultural and functional activities beyond subsistence. These finds emphasize the role of hunting and animal husbandry in the site's economy. This study contributes to our understanding of human–environment interactions, subsistence strategies, and the cultural dynamics of militarized communities in the western Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Republican period
Ancient history · Archaeology · Compartment (ship · Ethnology · Geography · Irregular migration · Subsistence agriculture · Archaeological and Geological Studies · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · History
Zooarchaeology
Small and large game
A guide to the measurement of animal bones from archaeological sites
Nova Planta Do Castelo Velho De Safara
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A Morphological Investigation of Burnt Animal Bone and an Evaluation of its Utility in Archaeology
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Science in Archaeology. A Comprehensive Survey of Progress and Research
Chelonian use in Portugal
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The hunters or the hunted? An introduction to african cave taphonomy
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Ancient use of the knuckle-bone for rituals and gaming piece
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The Analysis of Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites
A Method of Calculating the Dietary Percentage of Various Food Animals Utilized by Aboriginal Peoples
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |