Roman Africa: An Archaeological Review

Mattingly, David; Hitchner, R. Bruce

doi:10.1017/s0075435800074803

Cited by 78 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 133 publications

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“…However, several North African sites, such as Cherchel, Setif, and Carthage, show an increase in pig consumption during the Roman Period. The evolving preference for pig in some North African sites during the Roman Period seems to be an emulation of the pig consumption that typified Roman Italy despite the species' poor suitability to the local climate (King, ; p. 188, Mattingly & Hitchner, ; pp. 196–198 and citations therein).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zooarchaeological evidence for meat consumption at Zita, Tunisia, during the Punic to Roman occupations (2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE)

Moses

Kaufman

Drine

et al. 2019

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Although Roman North Africa is known for its production of cereals, faunal evidence from the Neo‐Punic urban mound of Zita in South East Tunisia shows that meat was an important part of the diet. Similarly to other North African sites, sheep and goat contributed the most to meat consumption in all time periods. The proportions of cattle, sheep/goat, and pig (the most common sources of meat in most Roman influenced sites) are closer to the nearby site of Meninx than to Carthage. This research uses the complete collection of faunal material from one feature at Zita to analyse pre‐Roman and Roman meat consumption. Because data from few comparable sites are available, this analysis adds new understanding to diet over time in the region, but further studies at Zita and in the region more broadly would help confirm these findings. Zooarchaeological remains show a diet heavily dependent on sheep and goat, with fish, molluscs, cattle, pig, and chicken also commonly consumed. Wild animals in the diet include hare and birds. Other fauna recovered were indirectly related to human activities; small terrestrial animals like amphibians, snakes, and rodents were likely attracted to refuse and increased as the site became more industrialised in the Roman period. The data show that the diet at Zita remains consistent across time, indicating a strong and ongoing local influence on cuisine despite transitions in the political infrastructure from Carthaginian to Neo‐Punic/Roman periods.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zooarchaeological evidence for meat consumption at Zita, Tunisia, during the Punic to Roman occupations (2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE)

Moses

Kaufman

Drine

et al. 2019

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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“…A cattle scapula, pierced to allow it to be hung for smoking. Mattingly and Hitchner (1995) but re-ordered by approximate date. Data sources comprise: Harbour-side: Levine (1994); Greek Charioteer and Ecclesiastical: Reese (1977); Cisterns 1-3: Reese (1981); Ave. Bourgiba: Schwartz (1984); Byrsa Hill: Payne (1981).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 9 3 1 -3 5 1 9 2 6 -3 0 1 9 4 1 -4 5 1 9 3 6 -4 0 1 9 5 1 -5 5 1 9 4 6 -5 0 1 9 5 6 -6 0 1 9 6 1 -6 5 1 9 7 1 -7 5 1 9 6 6 -7 0 1 9 8 1 -8 5 1 9 7 6 -8 0 1 9 9 1 -9 5 1 9 8 6 -9 0 2 0 0 1 -0 5 1 9 9 6 -2 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 -1 0 Mattingly and Hitchner (1995) but reordered by approximate date. Data sources comprise: Harbour-side: Levine (1994); Greek Charioteer and Ecclesiastical: Reese (1977); Cisterns 1-3: Reese (1981); Ave. Bourgiba: Schwartz (1984); Byrsa Hill: Payne (1981).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Field Methods and Post-Excavation Techniques in Late Antique Archaeology

Lavan¹,

Mulryan²

2015

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“…The Roman state and society as a whole exerted strong social and legal pressure to bring uncultivated fields under the plow and invest in agricultural infrastructure (Kehoe 1988;Stone 1997Stone , 1998Hilali 2013). Local niche construction via irrigation and runoff harvesting was particularly common, combining indigenous landscape management practices with the Empire's experience in large-scale hydraulic engineering (Shaw 1982;Mattingly and Hitchner 1995;Beckers et al 2013).…”

Section: Case Study: Roman North Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilevel Simulation of Demography and Food Production in Ancient Agrarian Societies: A Case Study from Roman North Africa

Gauthier¹

2019

Preprint

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Feedbacks between population growth, food production, and the environment were central to the growth and decay of ancient agrarian societies. Population growth increases both the number of mouths a society must feed and the number of people working to feed them. The balance between these two forces depends on the population's age structure. Although age structure ultimately reflects individual fertility and mortality, it is households that make decisions about the production and consumption of food, and their decisions depend on interactions with all other households in a settlement. How do these organizational levels interact to influence population growth and regulation? Here, I present a multi-level agent-based model of demography, food production, and social interaction in agricultural societies. I use the model to simulate the interactions of individuals, households, and settlements in a food-limited environment, and investigate the resulting patterns of population growth. Using Roman North Africa as a motivating example, I illustrate how abstract properties like "carrying capacity" emerge from the concrete actions and interactions of millions of individual people. Looking forward, bottom-up simulations rooted in first principles of human behavior will be crucial for understanding the coevolution of preindustrial societies and their natural environments.

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Roman Africa: An Archaeological Review

Cited by 78 publications

References 133 publications

Zooarchaeological evidence for meat consumption at Zita, Tunisia, during the Punic to Roman occupations (2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE)

Zooarchaeological evidence for meat consumption at Zita, Tunisia, during the Punic to Roman occupations (2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE)

Field Methods and Post-Excavation Techniques in Late Antique Archaeology

Multilevel Simulation of Demography and Food Production in Ancient Agrarian Societies: A Case Study from Roman North Africa

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