Feeding a Roman town : environmental evidence from excavations in Winchester ; 1972-1985

With specialist contributions by J. Bradfield, A. Bullock, J. Coy, V. Ford, F. J. Green, J. S. Pfeiffer, and K. D. Thomas. Other contributions by M. Gomersall, P. J. Ottaway, K. E. Qualmann, H. Rees, and G. D. Scobie. Photography by J. Crook and S. Shrimpton. Illustrations by M. Barden, L. Collett, and R. Hollman. Editorial team: P. J. Ottaway, H. Rees, and D. Serjeantson. This volume provides a record and analysis of Roman environmental evidence from the less well-known extra-mural areas of Winchester and assesses what these discoveries add to the understanding of the city’s past. It is one of the most comprehensive accounts of animal remains from a Roman town published up until this time. The study is based on excavations from the 1970s and early 1980s, which, by examining sites on the defences and in the historic suburbs, has enlarged the scope of previous extensive investigations within the city walls. It is essential reading for all those interested in the study of the animals, plants, and environment of a Roman town, as well as being of value to urban archaeologists and to those with a general interest in the history and archaeology of Hampshire. It sheds light on the management of animal and plant resources in and around one of the most well-known civitas capitals, as well as providing glimpses of everyday life in Winchester through this comprehensive study of the supply, consumption and disposal of mammals, birds, fish, and plants over a period of almost four hundred years. List of figures vii List of plates ix List of tables x List of contributors xv Acknowledgements xvi Summaries (English, French, and German) xvii PART 1: Introduction 1 PART 2: Faunal remains from the northern suburb and the city defences 29 PART 3: Environmental evidence from the western suburb 305 PART 4: Roman plant remains from Winchester: evidence from the suburbs and defences (F. J. Green) 327 Appendix 1: Mammal and bird bone metrical data from later Roman deposits in the northern suburb and on the city defences (compiled by M. Maltby and V. Ford) 343 Appendix 2: Site concordance 384 Bibliography 386 Index 394