Methods of Enquiry: Reconstructing Ancient Marine Resource Exploitation in the Western Maghreb

Abstract

This paper describes a study that focuses on the western Maghreb’s transition into the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana through marine resource exploitation: fishing, fish-salting and fresh marine resource consumption. To compensate for the issues inherent within the extant relevant datasets from previous excavations, this study applies an integrated methodology of investigation using a combination of archaeological and descriptive material: marine animal remains, fishing equipment, fish-salting sites, kilns and finds of salazon amphorae and written sources, tituli picti, pictorial representations and ethnography. As an example of the ensuing enquiry, the analysis of the case-study site of Lixus is summarised. When contextualised within a reconstructed littoral space, the combined data have the potential to provide a more complete and nuanced history regarding the use of past resources, ancient foodways, and human relations and interactions with the marine environment.