Villa Rustica from Rapoltu Mare-La Vie (Hunedoara County). Preliminary Zooarheological Data

Abstract

The article analyzes a fauna sample collected from a villa rustica in Rapoltu Mare, Hunedoara County. The material was gathered during the 2014–2017 seasons consisting of 1,406 fragments, 1,049 of which are fragments from the Roman levels (2nd–3rd centuries AD), and 357 are post–Roman fragments. Cattle dominate the Roman Phase I sample with 33.33%, followed by sheep/goats with 22.22% and pigs with 16.66%. Cattle dominate as fragments in the phases II–III, accounting for 32.02%, followed by small ruminants with 28.43% and pigs with 26.47%. The bones of the dog total 1.31%, while those of the horse, 6.21%. Hunting was a recreational activity, used to obtain furs, hides, antlers, with little impact on food supplying. Hunted prey includes hare, roe deer, red deer, beaver and various small carnivores. Sheep and goats account for 34–37% (NISP/MNI) of livestock at the post-Roman level, followed by pigs (26–27%) and bovines (18–24%). The horse has a threefold quota in comparison with the Roman levels, about 13–15%.