Romano-British Settlement and Cemeteries at Mucking by Lucy Sam; Evans Christopher;

Author:Lucy, Sam; Evans, Christopher;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Published: 2017-11-09T05:00:00+00:00

Table 3.19. NISP and MNI counts for all sites and species.

Key: UMM & ULM = Unid. Medium and Large Mammal / UUM = Unid. Fragment. NB: Species percentages are out of 2038. These differ from the unidentified counts as these are calculated on the basis of element identification (for UMM & ULM) and total fragments (for UUM) (corresponding to Σ in brackets).

As used by Done, Categories CFG, LAR, H/O, LMM and DER (refer to original database for definitions), all of which denote large mammals that cannot be assigned to a specific species, have been re-grouped under the abbreviation ULM (Unidentified Large Mammal).

In similar fashion, SFG, SAR and SMM (all of which denote medium sized ungulates that cannot be assigned to a specific species) have been re-categorised as UMM (Unidentified Medium Mammal).

Finally, DUB, U/D, O, UMM and RUM (denoting fragments that could not be assigned to species or element group) have been assigned to the UUM (Unidentified Mammal) group.

When calculating the actual numbers of fragments, and defining the minimum number of animals, it has been assumed that each record accounts for one fragment. Exceptions to this occurred when a specific number of fragments had been included, for example, in the comments category. Modern methods for calculating the minimum number of animals rely on pre-defined ‘diagnostic zones’ for each element (Dobney & Reilly 1988). This, combined with siding information, gives an estimate of the minimum number of individual animals represented in the assemblage. In the absence of zoning data the MNI (Minimum Number of Individuals) has been calculated from the humerus (and metacarpals for the horse).

Unfortunately, little can be directly reported regarding the state of preservation of the assemblage. However, by inference, it can be suggested that the condition of the bone was suitably undamaged for recognition of butchery, burning, pathology and other taphonomic changes.

Domestic animals were the most abundantly recovered fauna. Cattle were overwhelmingly the best represented of the ‘food species’ within the context of NISP (Number of Identifiable Specimen) accounting for 1231 fragments, or 60.4%, of the overall identified assemblage (Table 3.19). Ovicaprids were also recovered in significant numbers, with 305 fragments (or 14.9%). Pig was the least well represented, accounted for by 108 fragments (5.3%). The MNI for these species is arguably more representative and was calculated as showing at least 43 individual cows, six ovicaprids and seven pigs respectively.

Horse was a surprising component of this assemblage, with 214 fragments recovered and constituting ten percent of the identifiable faunal remains. This count is nearly twice that of pigs; however, the high fragment count is unrepresentative as only four individual animals were calculated for the MNI calculation. Other nonfood domesticates were also represented with both dog (37 fragments/1.8%, MNI of two animals) and cat (two fragments/0.09%, MNI of one individual) present.

Red and fallow deer, rabbit and hare represented wild species. A possible roe deer was also recorded. A small number of bird bones were also recovered: three fragments of domestic fowl, as well as one of goose. No fish or small mammal remains were noted.

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