Differential deposition of bird body parts in domestic Viking Age middens in Iceland

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4630867
AutoresGrace M Cesario (0000-0003-0250-7879, University of Iceland Sæmundargata 2, 102 Reykjavík Iceland, autor correspondente), Jill M Steinberg (0000-0002-4222-1544, Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston Massachusetts 02125 USA), John M Steinberg
Ano2023
Volume33
Fascículo4
Páginas689-700
Data de publicação2023-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.3226
OpenAlexW4362720359
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas13

Zooarcheological analysis shows that there is an overabundance of seabird wings recovered from Viking Age archeological sites in Iceland, especially when the rest of the body is considered. Cultural choices seem to be driving this differential. By comparing two species of alcids to ptarmigan, primarily recovered from domestic middens, the overabundance of specific bones suggests differences in bird butchery and use strategies. The data come from nine sites: one from Þjórsárdalur, five from Skagafjörður, and three from Mývatnssveit. Alcid wings, particularly proximal bones, are disproportionately recovered, while ptarmigan are generally represented by more legs than expected. By several metrics, the statistical significance of these patterns is dramatic and leads to the conclusion that alcid wings are discarded more frequently than other body parts. The simplest explanation for this pattern is that it is a result of the availability of each of the birds, which ultimately affects the way they are processed

Archaeology · Biology · Geography · Predation · Seabird · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Ecology · Geology · Paleontology