The faunal remains in the Amphitheatre of Aquileia

During the 2017 excavation season at the amphitheatre of Aquileia, carried out by the University of Verona, several faunal remains were recovered; these belonged, especially for US 147 and 153, to animals that were used in venationes, the hunting shows that took place in amphitheatres in Roman times. The faunal remains were characterised by a high degree of post-depositional fragmentation and, for this reason, in the Laboratory of Archaeozoology and Taphonomy of the University of Ferrara, they were patiently refitted. These remains were quantified, identified, measured and taphonomically analyzed. The process of identification of the faunal remains established the presence of domestic and wild fauna, such as bears, leopards and deer. These animals are commonly mentioned and depicted in literary and iconographic sources and have also been found in other amphitheatres where archaeozoological analyses were implemented. Animals from far away were used at Aquileia, with enormous expenses for capture, transport, and maintenance

Excavation · Faunal assemblage · Fragmentation (computing · Identification (biology · Taphonomy · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Paleopathology and ancient diseases