A camel skeleton from the Viminacium amphitheatre

Abstract

Camel remains have occasionally been found in Roman provincial sites throughout the Empire. In Serbia, several camel bones were found on Roman period sites. In the course of the excavations of the Viminacium amphitheatre, a partial camel skeleton was found in the western part of the arena. This find dates back to the middle, or the second half, of the 4th century AD, the period after the amphitheatre lost its function. As no other camel skeleton has been found throughout the European part of the Empire until now, this one represents a unique find in this territory. According to mixed morphometric features of the skeleton, it is suggested that the skeleton belonged to a hybrid individual. Based on taphonomic analysis of the skeleton, assumptions have been made as to how the corpse of this animal was treated after death. In this paper the role and significance of camels in Roman provinces in the territory of Serbia is also discussed.

Exposing mammoths: From loess research discovery to public palaeontological park

“…An additional rarity is the discovery of a camel skeleton during the excavations of the Viminacium amphitheatre in 2011, representing a unique find within the territory of the Roman provinces in Europe. To date, only single camel bones, which were not in association, have been found, so this is the first camel skeleton from Roman times ever excavated in Europe (Vukovi c and Bogdanovi c, 2013). This find can serve as a complementary attraction and could be used as a link between palaeontological and archaeological heritage combining geological, palaeontological, archaeological, historical and cultural heritage of this unique site.…”

Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) crossbreeding husbandry practices in Turkey and Kazakhstan: An in-depth review

“…The exceptional loading capacity of hybrid camels is documented repeatedly (Bulliet 2009;Tapper 1985Tapper , 2011 and is probably the reason why skeletal remains of hybrid camels have been found in various archaeological sites where trade centres and military garrisons were located. Such sites can be found all over Turkey and northern, eastern, and central Europe (Pigière and Henrotay 2012;Vukovic and Bogdanovic 2013;Çakırlar and Berthon 2014;De Grossi Mazzorin 2006, 2010Bartosiewicz 1996; Bartosiewicz and Dirjec 2001;Galik et al 2015). The Ottoman army used hybrid camels extensively because of their exceptional loading capacity: 400-500 kg and ability to withstand cold and hilly terrains (Leese 1927;Burckhardt 1831;van Lennep 1870;Russell and Russell 1794).…”

A Sunken Ship of the Desert at the River Danube in Tulln, Austria

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