Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

TELL EL-LARKHA

EGYPT

APPENDIX B
ARCHAEOZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH

The studied osseous remains included
bones of the Vertebrata and Invertebrata
classes. The invertebrates were represented
by mollusks (mollusks, snails), while the
vertebrates included the following groups:
fish (Pisces), amphibians (Amphibia), birds
(Aves) and mammals (Mammalia).
The analyzed osseous material was
preserved in very poor condition, damaged
and fragmented. Most of the bones were

burnt through or at least on the surface.
The process of secondary mineralization,
which is the outcome of calcium precipita-
tion, was observed on the external surface of
many bones, often making a positive ana-
tomic and species identification impossible.
Another frequent observation concerns
traces of gnawing by predators. These facts
largely limited the data on species, number
of animals, their size and gender.

CENTRAL KOM

Interestingly, the animal osseous remains
seem to have been concentrated in a single
part of the excavated area (squares 65c-d).
Of the domestic animals pig remains (Sus
domestica) are definitely the most numer-
ous. Also represented are cattle remains
(Bos primigenius f. domestica), goat/sheep
(Ovis aries — Capra hircus), dog (Canis
familiar is), cat (Felis). To judge from
available data, pigs were slaughtered most
frequently once the animal had reached an
age of 1-2 years. The data for the other
domestic species is too fragmentary for
similar conclusions to be drawn.
The number of wild animals on the
Central Kom reaches almost 21 % of all the
identified mammals. The identified re-
mains belong to wild boar (Sus scrofa),
auroch (Bos primigenius), antelope (closer
identification is impossible as yet), hyena
(Hyaena), white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium
simum), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus
amphibius), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and repre-
sentatives of the line of rodents (Nesokia
indica). The specific status of the donkey
(Equus africanus) or onager (Equus hemionus)

is unclear. It is very difficult to be sure
whether the identified donkey remains (11
animals) belong to the domestic or wild
variety; sub-species identification (donkey
or onager) is also quite difficult. Some
metric features of the long bones could
point to the domestic donkey, while the
teeth indicate the wild donkey or onager.
Noteworthy when compared to the other
animal species is the number of fragments
of hippopotamus tusks, belonging to 7 or
8 animals.
Some of the bones bear traces of
working and use. The most interesting
include fragments used as awls.
Another interesting find was a concen-
tration of bones found 15-20 cm below the
modern surface (square 53d). The identified
remains represented at least four dogs and
an antelope (?) of large size; two bones
belonged to an animal of a species that
could not be identified. The poor condition
of the bones hinders a reconstruction of the
position of the animals at the time of death.
It may have been an intentional burial of
the dogs accompanied by food.

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