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. Due to the small sample size of the first period assemblage and the large time that the third period covers, this study focuses only on the analyses of the animal bone remains from the second period (late 6th – early 8th century AD). The second period can be divided into three phases (construction, use, fire distruction, and abandonment). The bone assemblage includes 1,034 remains, of which 338 are identified from a species point of view. Most of the remains belong 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. Among 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 other contemporary settlements (from the 4th century AD) in North Africa, caprines are the most represented species (34%) exploited mainly for their meat. As the kill-off pattern shows, individuals were mainly killed when they were young. The presence of adult individuals suggests that secondary products were important too (i.e. wool, milk, and dairy products). The importance of wool at the site is confirmed by the fact that shears for clipping sheep wool were recovered at the site. The wither height for the sheep is 630.6 mm on average. Pigs are 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. In Rome, and more in general in the Latium region, pig is the main domestic animal while, in North Africa, Sardinia, and 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. Wither height for this species has been calculated at 1176.4 mm. Both sheep and cattle seem to be smaller than in the Roman period. The cut-marks observed on 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. A small number of equine and dromedary remains were found. Horses, donkeys, and dromedaries were probably used as draft animals and means of transportation. The 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, which is confirmed by the discovery of shell and fish remains.