The Roman introduction and exportation of animals into Tunisia: Linking archaeozoology with textual and iconographic evidence

Mohamed Azaza,Lídia Colominas

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.102076

Abstract

The Mediterranean basin was the core of the Roman Empire. Large communication networks were constructed and maintained that enabled the trade and distribution of large number of products between distant territories. North Africa, and more specifically Tunisia, was an important trading area. However, little information is available about the animal trade. To characterize this activity and evaluate its economic importance, in this study we examine which species were introduced and exported during the Roman era in Tunisia using archaeozoological data and contextualizing them with written and iconographic sources. This combined approach shows that the Romans were responsible for introducing and exporting numerous animals. We have documented the introduction of commensal animals, such as black rat (Rattus rattus) and house mouse (Mus sp.), wild animals such as fallow deer (Dama dama) and hare (Lepus sp.), and domestic animals such as rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and cat (Felis catus). At the same time, North Africa supplied Rome with wild beasts such as lions, tigers, bears and camels. We suggest that the animal trade was an important economic activity for Tunisia not only for the export of wild animals but also for the import of animals that were mainly used for social purposes.

Highlights

Archaeological and historical data have shown that since early times people played a fundamental role in the migration of animals in various locations around the world
Taking into account the data presented in this study, we propose that the cat, the rabbit and the hare, the house mouse, the black rat and the fallow deer were introduced into Tunisia during the Roman period
The dispersal of fallow deer to Europe is attributed to the Romans (Lever, 1977; Whitehead, 1972; Pascal et al, 2006; Sykes et al, 2011; Valenzuela et al, 2016). We suggest that these animals must have been introduced to western North Africa during this period since live wild fallow deer did not exist in that area before (Kowalski and RzebikKowalska, 1991; Baumgartner, 1996) and five remains have been documented at Bir Ennahal and one remain at Kobbat Bent El Rey

Summary

Introduction

Archaeological and historical data have shown that since early times people played a fundamental role in the migration of animals in various locations around the world. One of the most active periods began with the creation of the Roman Empire, which promoted connectivity around the Mediterranean Sea as a unique geographical space. This connectivity encouraged the movement and spread of animals that colonized new areas by travelling on human means of transport. Mobility and trade flourished across the Roman provinces and massive quantities of goods were shipped over thousands of kilometres by sea, river and road (Campillo et al, 2018). Archaeological evidence reveals the interconnectivity of the Roman world, as indicated by traded goods such as ceramics, marble and bricks (Rice, 2008). Oil and grain were traded in large quantities and transported over long distances (Dark, 2007)

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