Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

Room 13-42 fragments, including the
largest number of cattle remains (22), also
sheep/goat (9), pig (3) and camel (1);
Room 13A — 4l fragments, also the
largest number of cattle remains (21), in-
significant number of sheep/goat (6) in-
cluding a fragment of a goat skeleton, and
one fragmentary camel bone;
Yard 14 — cattle remains;
Room 16A — the most numerous assem-
blage counting 166 osteological fragments;
mostly small ruminants (97), including six
of sheep and three of goat; much less cattle
(20); also pig (4), dog (3) and equid (1).
None of the species were represented in
the material by a full skeleton. The most
extensive remains were those of the small
ruminants, in which case only the carpal
0Ossa carpi), tarsal (Ossa tarsi) and metatarsal
(Os metatarsale) bones were not recorded.
Being the smallest bones of the skeleton,
they could have been lost at the carcass-
processing stage or were insufficiently well
excavated.
In the case of cattle, the radius bone was
not noted, nor were the carpal (Ossa carpi),
metatarsal (Os metatarsale), and first and
second digit bones (Phalanx media, Phalanx
distalis). The pig skeleton was represented
by just a few bones: vertebrae, humerus,
metatarsal bone (Os metatarsi), pelvis
fragment (Pelis) and three metatarsal and
metacarpal fragments (Os metatarsi, Os
metacarpi). The Atlas, Axis and cervical
vertebrae were identified for the dog. As for
the camel, the bones were identified as the
second digit bone (Phalanx media), and in
the case of the equid, it was a maxilla
fragment.
An analysis of body parts was carried out
for the three most numerously represented
species. The material was divided by
consumptional attractiveness: corpus and
proximal parts of limbs, vs. the least
attractive parts from this point of view, i.e.,

cranium, distal parts of limbs and digit
members. Percentage shares were calculated
for the remains of small ruminants; for the
cattle, however, owing to an insufficient
number of the remains, only a numerical
tally has been given.
In the small ruminants group, the
biggest percentage was constituted by the
corpus (41%), proximal back limb (19%)
and proximal front limb (18%). Of the
consumptionally non-attractive parts, the
highest percentage represented crania
(13%). A much lower percentage was noted
for digit members (4%) and distal parts of
limbs (1.7% each) [Table 2, Fig. 31-
In the cattle group, the biggest
percentage concerned remains of crania (29
fragments). Next in quantity were remains
of the proximal back limb (14), followed
by the corpus (10). Other body parts were
seldom represented: distal back limb (6),
proximal front limb (5) and distal front
limb and digit members (3 each).
Only nine remains came from morpho-
logically immature animals. They con-
stituted 4.5% of the determined remains.
Five came from small ruminants and of
these four were from Room 16A and one
from Test pit 1. All represented animals
slaughtered before the third year of life as
indicated by epiphysial fusion with the
diaphysis of long bones. These were not very
young animals, but rather specimens which
had reached the size of adult individuals.
Remains of young cattle were noted mainly
in Rooms 13 and 13A. In two cases, age of
death was estimated on the grounds of bone
fusion at less than 3.5-4 years, in one case
less than 2-2.5 years, and in one case before
the 20-24 month of life. Again, in
similarity to the small ruminants, these
were juvenile individuals.
Sex could be established for only two
fragments of bones, in both cases horns.
One was of the twisted variety noted

379