Resti faunistici

The faunal assemblage from the rural settlement of Aïn Wassel is composed of 1275 fragments. It can be divided into three chronological periods. The first phase (4th – 6th century AC) refers to the period before the building was built, the second phase (late 6th – early 8th century AC) refers to the period when the rural settlement was active, and the last phase refers to the period in which the building was demolished (late 8th – 20th century AC). Due to the small sample size of the assemblage from the first period and the large time span that the third period covers, this study focuses only on the analyses the animal bone remains from the second period. The second period can be divided into three phases (construction, use, demolition from fire and abandonment) but sample size is so small that all the animal bones from the second period have been considered together. The bone assemblage includes 1034 remains, of which 338 are identified to species level. Most of the remains belongs to domestic animals. Sheep and goats are the most important species, followed by pig remains which are also numerous. Chicken and cattle bones have been identified as well. A few remains belong to donkey, Equus sp. and dromedary. Of wild animals, it is worth mentioning the presence of small mammals (African hare, weasel), intrusive animals (toad, rat) and birds (partridge, probably Sardinian). Only a small quantity of micro mammals, unidentified birds and fish remains was recovered. Like in other contemporary settlements (from the 4th century AD) in North Africa, caprines are the most represented species (34%) exploited mainly for their meat. In fact, as the kill-off pattern shows, individuals were mainly killed when young. The presence of adult individuals suggests that secondary products were important too (i.e. wool, milk, dairy products). The important of wool at the site is confirmed by the fact that shears for clipping sheep wool were recovered at the site. Wither height for the sheep is 630.6 mm on average. If the data from Aïn Wassel are compared to the data from Cherchell it can be seen that the sheep at Aïn Wassel are smaller than those from Cherchell but bigger than sheep from Carthage. Pig is also well represented (28.1%); the kill-off pattern of this species reveals that pigs were killed at all ages. This animal was the major meat source, along with the cattle. The presence of very old pigs has been interpreted as sign of the presence of females at the end of their reproductive activity but also of castrated pigs. In fact, pigs are useful for their meat, they are prolific and cheap to maintain. In Rome, and more in general in the Latium region, pig is the main domestic animal while, in North Africa, Sardinia and in Puglia, the main domesticates were the caprines. Cattle bones are not very numerous (10.3%). This species must have been used mainly as a traction animal, for its secondary products (milk, manure) and, at the end of their life, for its meat. Cattle are also more expensive to maintain than pigs. Wither height for this species has been calculated at 1176.4 mm. Both sheep and cattle seems to be smaller than in the Roman period. The cut-marks observed on a cattle horn corn suggest their use for craft activities. Particularly interesting is a caput of a femur, which has been cut and pierced; this has been interpreted as a spindle for a loom. Chicken (13.6%) is also present; probably used as a source of meat and eggs. Identified specimens are mostly adult. A small number of equine and dromedary remains were found. Horses, donkeys and dromedaries were probably used as draft animals and means of transportation. Horse was not eaten during the Roman age in the north African world. Like cattle, the dromedary was exploited for agricultural work. In conclusion, the economy of the site was based on farming and agriculture. Hunting was practiced very rarely. The settlement, although isolated, was not far from the Roman road from Carthago –Theveste. This position helped a trade with the northern coast, that is confirmed by the discovery of shell and fish remains.