Abstract
The Roman–Byzantine fortress of (L)Ibida (Slava Rusă, Tulcea County, Romania) has preserved archeozoological and archeobotanical remains (i.e., phytoliths) that allowed an evaluation of the human–environmental interactions in that period. Bringing together bioarcheological data, this study contributes to understand the subsistence economy during a period of sociopolitical changes in the region. The stratigraphical sequences and the preliminary observations made on the archeological materials (ceramics, metal artifacts, coins) indicate a relative chronology beginning with the second to third centuries AD and lasting until the sixth century AD. Phytolith analysis highlights the clear domination of the grasses (Poaceae) and indicates the presence of cereals within the fortress. In the surroundings of the fortress, it appears to have existed an open environment. Although modest, the percentage of the Spheroid phytoliths suggests the presence of woody dicots, indicating the fact that the wooded surfaces existed near the fortress. The archeozoological data confirm the fact that the fortress was placed in an open environment, where people bred especially cattle ( Bos taurus) and sheep/goat flocks ( Ovis aries/Capra hircus), and they hunted species such as hare ( Lepus europaeus); also, the forest existed nearby, as indicate the remains of hunted species, among which we found the red deer ( Cervus elaphus) and the wild boar ( Sus scrofa).
Highlights
In the last years, the interdisciplinary approach in the knowledge of human past has become more and more important, due to the development of new concepts, methods, and techniques in the investigation of history
Considering the estimated minimum number of individuals (MNI), the pig is placed in the first position (23.6%) and it is followed by cattle (21%) and sheep/ goat (15.7%)
Bioarcheological results highlight the fact that between second to third centuries AD and the sixth century AD, the fortress was in an open space, dominated by grasses, as proven by phytolith analysis
Summary
The interdisciplinary approach in the knowledge of human past has become more and more important, due to the development of new concepts, methods, and techniques in the investigation of history. The purpose of this article is to reconstruct the human–environment interactions in the Ibida Fortress area using two types of bioarcheological indicators: phytoliths (microscopic silica structures found in some plant tissues and persisting after plant decay) for the paleovegetation and animal skeletal remains for the paleofauna. This fortification has benefited of archeozoological studies before, made for different other points of research to the fourth to sixth centuries AD (Stanc, 2004, 2009), but this is the first time that the bioarcheological research involves archeobotany (i.e., phytoliths analysis).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
