Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

MtoM - MEROWE SHERIQ, TANQASI, ZUMA

SUDAN

FAUNAL REMAINS FROM THE TANQASI
BURIAL GROUND, SEASON 2006

Marta Osypinska*

Excavations of tumulus tomb Tnq.87 at the
Tanqasi burial ground in 2006 yielded three
assemblages of faunal remains originating
from three separate chambers (S, N and
W.2). Altogether 151 bone fragments were
examined. The state of the remains is good,
but the extremely desiccated conditions of
deposition have left the bones brittle and
eroded on the surface. All fragments of the
individual bones were examined in sets,
which gave the opportunity to count the
number of original remains deposited in the
tomb. There were most likely 16 bones in
Chamber S, approximately 10 in Cham-
ber N and about 24 in Chamber W.2.
The skeletal material was identified by
species and anatomical part; the remains
were examined to determine also age at
death of the animals and morphology. No
intentional cut marks were observed. Bone
measurements follow data given in von den
Driesch (1976) and Lasota-Moskalewska
(1997). Slaughter age of cattle and goats
was established on the grounds of data cited
by A. Lasota-Moskalewska after Kolda
(1936). Height at the withers for the cattle
was calculated using variables established
by J. Matolcsi (1970, cited after von den
Driesch, Boessneck 1974). A comparative
analysis of the cattle and goat remains was
based on osteometric data. The goats from
Tanqasi were compared with the assemblage
discovered during PCMA and Patrimonium


* Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences (IAE PAN), Poznan branch

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