In Mauretaniae maritimis : marine resource exploitation in a Roman North African province

This study assesses the environmental, social and economic consequences of the Roman incorporation of the North African province of Mauretania Tingitana through the lens of marine resource exploitation. A new methodology is applied to analyse archaeological and descriptive data from the mid-1 st to late 3 rd centuries AD related to fishing, the consumption of fresh fish and shellfish, and the processing of salted foodstuffs, sauces and purple dyes. These data are contextualised within the specific marine environments of the province through a regional assessment and three case studies. Such a methodology allows for the evaluation of species caught, and the reconstruction of fishing methods and areas of fishing effort. Using the seascape and a variety of material culture as a foundation, this study illustrates synthetically the ways in which a key natural resource of North Africa was exploited in antiquity. This analysis clarifies previous misconceptions regarding the marine environment and its exploitation that tend to focus only on the fish-salting industry; it incorporates an abundance of new data within an environmental framework in order to answer more accurately interpretations of past resource use and its role in the Roman economy. Zum Geleit Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations Greek and Latin sources Arabic sources Historical sources General Figures Tables Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Material basis and problems 1.2 The present study Chapter 2 Methodology 2.1 Previous approaches to marine resources in antiquity 2.2 Theoretical framework of the present enquiry 2.3 Methodological approach and research questions 2.3.1 Chronology 2.3.2 Site types Chapter 3 Contexts, data sources and applications 3.1 Environmental context and data 3.2 Archaeological data 3.2.1 Marine animal remains 3.2.2 Fishing equipment 3.2.3 Fish-salting production 3.3 Descriptive data 3.3.1 Written sources 3.3.2 Pictorial representations 3.3.3 Ethnography Chapter 4 Historical background 4.1 Prehistory 4.2 The western Phoenician and Punico-Mauretanian periods 4.3 The Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana 4.4 The Late Roman province Chapter 5 Environmental context 5.1 The western-most African province 5.2 The geology of the northwest Maghreb 5.3 Coastal topography and maritime environment 5.3.1 The Mediterranean coast: Oued Moulouya to Ceuta 5.3.2 The Strait of Gibraltar coast: Ceuta to Cap Spartel 5.3.3 The Atlantic coast: Cap Spartel to Essaouira 5.4 Changes in the littoral of the northwest Maghreb 5.4.1 Factors affecting the coastal environment 5.4.2 The ‘reconstructed’ ancient littoral Chapter 6 Regional characterisations 6.1 The Mediterranean littoral 6.1.1 Finds 6.1.2 Summary 6.2 The Strait of Gibraltar littoral 6.2.1 Finds 6.2.2 Summary 6.3 The Atlantic littoral 6.3.1 Finds 6.3.2 Summary 6.4 Discussion Chapter 7 Case studies 7.1 Tamuda 7.1.1 The history of the site 7.1.2 The maritime environment 7.1.3 Evidence of marine resource exploitation 7.1.4 Discussion 7.1.5 Summary 7.1.6 Conclusions: the role of fishing at Tamuda 7.2 Septem Fratres 7.2.1 The history of the site 7.2.2 The maritime environment 7.2.3 Evidence of marine resource exploitation 7.2.4 Discussion 7.2.5 Summary 7.2.6 Conclusions: the role of fishing at Septem Fratres 7.3 Lixus 7.3.1 The history of the site 7.3.2 The maritime environment 7.3.3 Evidence of marine resource exploitation 7.3.4 Discussion 7.3.5 Summary 7.3.6 Conclusions: the role of fishing at Lixus Chapter 8 Discussion 8.1 The role of marine resources in the northwest Maghreb 8.1.1 ‘Fresh’ consumption 8.1.2 Processing 8.2 ‘Romanisation’ and marine resource exploitation 8.2.1 Punico-Mauretanian period 8.2.2 Roman period 8.2.3 Late Roman period 8.2.4 Discussion Chapter 9 Conclusions Appendix 1 Marine animal remains Metadata Appendix 1.1 Fish bones Appendix 1.2 Marine invertebrates Appendix 2 Fishing equipment Metadata Appendix 2.1 Mediterranean Appendix 2.2 Strait of Gibraltar Appendix 2.3 Atlantic Appendix 3 Fish-salting production Metadata Appendix 3.1 Fish-salting facilities Appendix 3.2 Salt sources Appendix 3.3 Salazón amphorae Appendix 4 Written sources Metadata Appendix 4.1 Texts Appendix 4.2 Tituli picti Appendix 5 Pictorial representations Metadata Appendix 6 Ethnography Metadata Appendix 6.1 Mediterranean coast Appendix 6.2 Strait of Gibraltar coast Appendix 6.3 Atlantic coast Appendix 6.4 Southwest Iberian coast Appendix 7 Historical maps Metadata Bibliography Indices Literary texts Inscriptions Marine animals Persons and groups Places and geographical features General