Évolution de la production animale sur deux territoires des Alpes du Nord (Ier et IIIe/IVe siècles de notre ère)

Abstract

Two areas of the north Alps are discussed in this article. One is located close to Annecy at the locality known as "Les Ilettes" ( Haute-Savoie, France ) ; the other, the Forum Claudii Vallensium is located on the Martigny plain, in the Valais Canton in Switzerland. The study of the animal remains found on these two sites highlights the development of meat diet implying a parallel development of stock-breeding in the neighbouring countryside. At Les Ilettes the change is from raising cattle and pig in the 1st century to poultry and sheep in the 3rd and 4th century, with the numbers of pig decreasing at the beginning of the 3rd century. At the Forum Claudii Vallensium, between the 1st and 3rd /4th century, there is a considerable reduction in the percentages of sheep and goats. From the 2nd century onward there is a gradual shift towards cattle-raising which intensifies in the 3rd century, with pig still very present.