Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

ANIMAL BONE REMAINS FROM OLD DONGOLA
OSTEOLOGICAL MATERIAL FROM BUILDING B.I
ON KOM A
Marta Osypinska

The osteological material came from the
excavations in Building B.I on Kom A in
Old Dongola in the 2001 and 2003
seasons.There were three sources of the
assemblage: unit B.I. 15 which was the
depository of the upper-floor toilet
facilities dated on pottery grounds to the
7th century AD; the staircase B.I.l and the
fill under the stairs; and court SWN.8 in
front of the palace entrance leading to the

staircase, the latter two both dated by the
pottery finds to the 13th/14th century.1 2)
Altogether 2526 animal bone remains
were subjected to palaeozoological analysis
('Table 1). The low percentage of remains
that could not be identified testifies to the
good state of preservation of the bones.
Most of the damages to the material draw
from butchering and treatment by
cooking.

LOCALIZATION
DETERMINED
FRAGMENTS
UNDETERMINED
FRAGMENTS
TOTAL
Fragments %
Fragments
%
Fragments
%
B.I.15
1278
91.02
126
8.97
1404
100
B.I.l
551
81.02
129
18.97
680
100
SWN 8
410
92.7 6
32
7.23
442
100

Tab. 1. Osteological remains from Kom A by unit
METHODS

The results of species and anatomical
determination of the bones have been
presented in table form. The material was
also studied in terms of the proportions of
specific parts of the carcass, morphology,

age, sex, pathologies and evidence of
butchering. Osteometric measurements
essential for study of animal morphology
were based on guidelines presented by
A. Driesch3) 4 and A. Lasota-Moskalewska. h

1) For the present season, cf. report by W. Godlewski in this volume; for the 2001 season, cf. W. Godlewski, PAM XIII,
Reports 2001 (2002), esp. 206-210.
2) The dating in all three instances, W. Godlewski (personal communication).
3) A. Driesch, “A guide to the measurement of animal bones from archaeological sites”, Peabody Museum Bulletins,
1 (1976) esp. 25-86.
4) A. Lasota-Moskalewska, Wstgp do archeozoologii. Szcz§tki ssakow (Warszawa 1997).

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