Animal Husbandry in Ancient Israel by Sasson Aharon;

Author:Sasson, Aharon;
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 4500517
Publisher: Routledge

Table 3.4 Cattle mortality profile, based on epiphysial fusion.

Donkey. Four specimens of domestic donkey (Equus assinus) were discovered in Stratum II. They are originated in three loci and comprise 2 carpal bones and 2 lower molars (M/1 and M/2) generating an MNI value of 1. The molar teeth were identified as domestic donkey rather than horse based of criteria listed by Davis (1980). Donkey bones in the Iron Age II, were also found at Tel Hesban (LaBianca 1990), Pella (Kohler-Rollefson 1992a), Tel Lachish (Croft 2004), Tel Jemmeh (Wapnish and Hesse 1988), and the site of the City of David (Horwitz 1996b).

Dog. Seven specimens of dog (Canis familiaris) were identified. They originated in seven loci and include two humeri, femur, astragalus, metatarsal and two lumbar vertebrae, generating an MNI value of 1. Dog bones, in the Iron Age II, were also found at Tel Lachish (Croft 2004), Tel Dan (Wapnish and Hesse 1991) and Tel Masos (Tchernov and Drori 1983).

Pig. Nine specimens of pig (Sus scrofa) were identified. They originated in three loci and include two first phalanx bones, scapula, metatarsal and two fragments of mandibula, generating an MNI value of 1. The phalanx bones were found unfused indicating they originated in a two year old individual (Silver 1969). Pig bones, in the Iron Age II, were also found at Tel Hesban (LaBianca 1990), Pella (Kohler-Rollefson 1992a), Tel Lachish (Croft 2004), Tel Jemmeh (Wapnish and Hesse 1988), Tel Miqne (Lev-Tov 2000), Tel Dan (Wapnish and Hesse 1991) and Tel Qiri (Davis 1987b).

It is evident that pigs were not used for consumption at Stratum II. As discussed above, animals that were exploited for food, would leave a profound mark on the zooarchaeological record. There is an ongoing debate as to whether the taboo on pigs originated for practical-ecological reasons or cultural-ideological (cf. Harris 1974; Diener 1978; Hesse 1990; Zeder 1996; Raban-Gerstel, et al. 2008). It is possible that pigs were avoided in Iron Age Tel Beer-Sheba due to religious taboo. Nonetheless, I advocate the notion that the primary reason for the taboo on pigs, in many regions of the Southern Levant, was ecological. Pork would have made a considerable contribution to the human diet (Sasson 1998). However, caprines and cattle provided adequate animal-derived nutrients as well as wool, hair and hides (Sasson 2006). Bearing in mind that ancient populations strove to minimize risks in order to maintain a long-term survival, pig husbandry would have stood in contrast with this strategy. Pigs need to be watered daily and do not cope well with temperature extremes (Harris 1974:40–42; Van Loon 1978). Furthermore, a large part of the Southern Levantine population engaged in some mode of mobility, which made pig husbandry impractical. Gradually, the ecological practice evolved into a cultural-ideological belief.

Gazelle. Ten specimens of gazelle were identified. They originated in eight loci and include two first phalanx bones, a scapula, a metatarsal, a horncore and five vertebrae (thoracic and lumbar), generating an MNI value of one. The geographic context suggests that the specimens belong to the mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella).

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