The Evolution of Cattle Husbandry Practices in the Roman Period in Gallia Belgica and Western Germania Inferior

Abstract

This article examines and compares the evolution of animal husbandry practices in severalcivitatesof Gallia Belgica and western Germania Inferior, as documented by archaeozoological data. It focuses on two neighbouringcivitates, those of the Nervii and the Tungri, its aim being to explore the factors that influenced diversity in husbandry practices. In general, it appears that cattle played an important role in the Early Roman animal economy of thesecivitates. There is evidence that large cattle were primarily bred for use as draught animals. At the same time, the intensive processing of cattle on professional butchery sites, and indications of cattle-related craft activities in urban environments, demonstrate that within the market economy animal exploitation was focused on cattle. Nevertheless, several aspects of animal husbandry practices exhibit geographical differences. Evidence of surplus production of pigs in the countryside of Gallia Belgica suggests that different kinds of agricultural specialization existed within the loess belt. There are also differences in the adoption of Roman agricultural innovations in terms of morphological changes in cattle.