Multidisciplinary research based on the interpretation of data acquired by archaeological and natural science methods and their correlation. The main objective is to reconstruct the interaction of factors of the environment and the living conditions of human communities and their development from the 6th until the early 12th century. The study will draw on research of the complex of the Great Moravian centre at Pohansko near Břeclav (South Moravia), its surroundings and hinterland. The subsistence strategy and its development in the early medieval society was studied on the basis of finds related to farming production and the subsequent processing of the products.
In this essay, we focused on the evaluation of isotope analyses (δ13Ccoll and δ15Ncoll) of the first lower molars (m1) of domestic cattle (Bostaurus) from two early medieval Pohansko-Southern bailey (Pohansko-JP) and Kostice-”Zadní hrúd” (Kostice-ZH) sites. The aim of the study is the evidence of the breast-feeding effect of calves and subsequent weaning on the dentine average isotope composition. Results from both sites are compared with the data obtained from recent experimental cattle breeding. Possible differences in the cattle breeding between both studied localities are evaluated. The first lower molars of the domestic cattle (n = 15) were selected for analyses from both sites supplemented by a sample of the compact bone of the shinbone of an adult individual from the Pohansko-JP site. The determination of the ontogenetic age of the analyzed individuals is based on the dentition development stage. For the purpose of isotope analyzes (δ13Ccoll and δ15Ncoll), dentine collagen was extracted from all tooth crowns. The δ13Ccoll dentine values of the m1 of cattle from the Pohansko-JP ranged from -17.75‰ to -21.8‰ (n = 11) with mean value of -19.81 ± 1.03‰. δ15Ncoll values for dentine of all m1 samples from Pohansko-JP range from 6.2‰ to 11.87‰ with mean value of 8.29 ± 1.71‰ (n = 11). The highest δ15Ncoll values were observed primarily in samples of juvenile individuals, with the exception of one adult specimen (10.90 ‰). δ13Ccoll values in m1 of adult individuals from the Kostice-ZH site range from -19.30‰ to -20.91‰ (n = 4). The mean value -19.83 ± 1.01‰ is lower if compared to results from recent experimental breedings. The volume of 15N isotope is significantly lower contrary to those in Pohansko-JP and aforementioned experimental study. It can be assumed that the diet of the cattle in both studied sites was primarily based on C3 plants; however, we cannot exclude a small admixture of C4 plants (millet) in the diet of some observed individuals. The cattle from the Pohansko-JP could be driven to graze from the open meadows up to the ecotones in the vicinity of the forest which is partly supported by the palaeobotanic record. In Kostice-ZH site, the grazing in open meadows was most prevalent. The volume of 15N from the Pohansko-JP site shows that in most cases, calves were not prematurely weaned. In samples from Kostice-ZH, the 15N content in adult individuals was significantly lower contrary to values from Pohansko-JP. A present stage of the knowledge indicates that the cattle (i. e., including mother cows) was probably fed plants characterized by low δ15N values; however, a premature weaning to increase the milk production cannot be excluded.
The collapse of the Great Moravian early medieval fortified centre at Pohansko near Břeclav triggered some changes. These changes became evident in the development of the alluvial plain environment, as well as in the settlement, subsistence, and economic strategies of the population. One particularly prominent phenomenon was an unprecedented increase in the proportion of hunted animals appearing in osteological assemblages from the 10 th century AD. They were found among the features and the cultural layers of the former northeastern suburbium of the Great Moravian centre at Pohansko and a new settlement known as Břeclav-Na Včelách. Remains of the European beaver (Castor fiber) predominate or are strongly represented among the wild species, which might be the result of specialised hunting or even breeding. The joint analysis by palynologists, archaeobotanists and archaeozoologists seeks to explain the significant presence of a specific species in terms of the evolution of the natural environment and the economy.
The subject of the presented article is the processing of archaeozoological finds from the Early Middle Age settlement in Brno-Medlánky. This relatively small set consists of two different groups of osteological material. The first represents fragments of bones and teeth coming from the so-called kitchen waste. This set was processed by standard methods consisting in determining the anatomical affiliation, species, age, or sex, and the evidence of traces of manipulation (cutting, chopping, biting). The second group of finds representing several complete skeletons of animals is quite significant, as some of the animals were not consumed. Within the three features, 3 canine (2× a dog, 1× a wolf?), a horse and a pig skeleton in the secondary position were captured. Even in these cases, the basic characteristics of the animals were recorded, including age, sex, height, and post-mortem manipulation. The presence of preserved animal bodies from the settlement in Medlánky was compared with other documented finds of skeletons of animals from this period.
The state of knowledge of the Epi-Lengyel settlement of South Moravia is still limited to a few isolated pub lished sites, with a predominant focus on the typological evaluation of pottery. Collections of lithics remain unevaluated or are treated mainly typologically. The inventory of the settlement feature from Lidická Street, Drnholec, Břeclav district, comprising, among other things, 45 lithic pieces, has made it possible to apply modern methods to the evaluation of the collection, elucidating detailed aspects of its use and the depositional context of this function. It is the first-ever collection of Epi-Lengyel lithics in Central Europe studied by use-wear analysis. The results of this analysis show that it is a functionally homogeneous assemblage that was intended for processing animal materials, mainly leather. In terms of the distribution of raw material, there is an absolute orientation towards local sources. In a broader settlement context, the site appears peripheral.
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