PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE FAUNAL REMAINS FROM TELL HALIF
1992 EXCAVATIONS - Susan Arter 8/15/92
Preliminary analysis of the Tell Halif faunal remains recovered from the first
season of Phase III excavations in 1992, was conducted over a six week period at Site
101 on the eastern terrace of the tell and in Field IV on the western edge of the tell's
summit. The goal of this research was to identify the animal remains and to gain an
overview of the nature of animal utilization during the Chalcolithic period in Site
101 and the Iron Age period represented in Field IV.
The on-site faunal study program conducted in conjunction with the Lahav Research
Project was initiated by Dr. Melinda of animal exploitation at Tell Halif over its
5000 years of human occupation from the Chalcolithic period to the present. Dr. Zeder,
with the assistance of Susan Arter, Eric Fettman and Elizabeth Moore, has conducted
the Stage 1 and is near completing the Stage 2 analyses of faunal assemblages recovered
during the Phase I and II excavation seasons. Stage 1 analysis of the faunal remains
from the current Phase III excavations was conducted by Arter with the assistance of
Fettman at the Lahav Research Project Field Laboratory housed at Kibbutz Lahav. Stage 2
analysis of Phase III fauna from Site 101 will be done by Zeder; analysis of the Field
IV faunal material will be conducted by Arter.
A total of 15,991 animal bones were recovered from the first season of Phase
III excavations. The bones were analyzed to the level of class and sub-family when
possible, or were identified as large, medium or small mammal. Modern comparative
specimens were used to assist in the identifications. All faunal data recorded
during analysis were entered into the dBASE 3 computer software data management
program. Eugene Futato generated the dBASE programs which sorted the fauna by strata.
Following the analysis, all bones were boxed for shipment to the United States for further study.
The goals of the 1992 Phase III excavations are to conduct a broad horizontal
exposure of the Iron II period at Tell Halif and to complete excavations in the
Chalcolithic period at Site 101 begun in previous seasons. Accordingly, the purpose
of the infield faunal research at Tell Halif is to identify the fauna from the
Chalcolithic and Iron Age periods at the site. However, in Field IV ceramic data
identified a Byzantine presence on the tell, and both ceramic and architectural
remains revealed Persian strata. This report does not include information on Byzantine
fauna because the Byzantine remains excavated from the surface of the tell were mixed
with Persian material, as reflected in the ceramic identifications. Further excavations
in the 1993 season may help clarify a stratigraphic break between the Byzantine and
Persian periods. Faunal remains associated with Persian strata are addressed here.
It should also be said that differences in animal resource utilization are
noted between the Chalcolithic and Iron Ages, relative to cultural and functional
differences at the site during these respective periods. However, the Bronze Age
periods whose cultural developments span some 2,000 plus years between the Chalcolithic
and Iron Age were not a part of these current excavations and are not included here.
Faunal data from the Bronze Age periods which have been recovered at Tell Halif in
previous seasons are addressed by Zeder (Seger et. al. 1990).
Phase III excavations recovered 2,662 animal bone fragments associated with
the Chalcolithic cave dwelling at Site 101. Of these, 732 bones were identified
to the level of class or subfamily (Table 1). The identifiable remains indicate
that the early occupants of Tell Halif utilized a wide range of animal resources.
In addition to domestic sheep, goat, cow, pig, equid and canid remains, the assemblage
includes hartebeest, gazelle, wild goat or ibex, bird, fish, turtle and ostrich
eggshell. Although the percentage of consumable domestic fauna (97%), far outweigh
the number of wild dietary animal remains from this assemblage (3%), the presence
and variety of these wild fauna indicate that the inhabitants of the subterranean
cave dwelling at Site 101 supplemented their diet by taking advantage of the wild fauna
available in the region (Table 2).
There were 1,114 faunal remains recovered from the Iron Age deposit represented
by stratum VIB in Field IV. Among these, 301 bones were identifiable (Table 1). These
remains reflect a significant difference in the use of animal resources from that in
the Chalcolithic period at Tell Halif. The range of animals present in this assemblage
narrows considerably and suggests a more standardized diet. Ninety-seven percent of the
identifiable fauna were domestic animals including sheep and goat (90%), cow (6%), and
equid (1%); pig remains drop out entirely. The remaining 3% of the assemblage represent
a scant presence of fish and turtle; a single bird bone was recovered (Table 2).
While the percentages of domestic versus wild fauna recovered from the Iron
Age and Chalcolithic assemblages are comparable, considerably more domestic and
wild fauna were utilized in the Chalcolithic. The notable paucity of faunal variety
in the Iron Age reflects an animal resource strategy concurrent with a change in site
function to the specialized urban economy of the fortified Israelite town identified
in Field IV. Domestic sheep, goat and cattle become the standard, to the exclusion of
domestic pig and wild hartebeest, gazelle and ibex. These findings concur with the animal
use associated with the Iron II stratum identified during Phase II excavations in Fields
II and III, as reported by Zeder (Seger, et. al. 1990). The more detailed Stage 2
analysis of the Field IV faunal remains will help reveal the multiple roles the domestic
animals played as providers of food, muscle and wool within the specialized economy
operative during the Iron II period at Tell Halif.
Persian occupation in Field IV is represented by Stratum 5. Over 12,000 animal
remains were recovered from this period. Fauna identified within this stratum indicate
that the occupants were making use of animal resources available to them in the area
surrounding Tell Halif (Table 1). Although the majority of the 1036 identifiable
remains again reflect a reliance on domestic animals (91%), the Persian Age inhabitants
appear to have supplemented their diet of domestic sheep, goat, cow and pig with wild
gazelle, bird and fish (9%) (Table 2). The reoccurrence of domestic pig, coupled with
an increase in wild fauna to 9% of the collection, may reflect a change in site function
different from both those of the Iron and Chalcolithic periods.
This increase in wild fauna consists largely of elevated numbers of bird
remains in the Persian assemblage. Although they have not been identified
beyond the taxonomic level of class, they do not appear to be chicken; rather
they seem to be dove or pigeon-sized birds. \Though few of the bird remains
are complete enough to allow species identification, it is hoped that further
study of these specimens will verify whether they are wild or possibly small domestic chickens.
Most unusual was a concentration of animal bones recovered from a stone-lined
Persian age pit which contained, within a 5-10 cm. deposit, over 8,000 carbonized
and calcined young sheep, goat and cow remains. Fifty-five non-burned bird bones
were also recovered from the pit deposit, as was a non-burned jaw of a large dog.
This concentration of highly burned young sheep, goat and cows may be remains of
sacrificial practice. Unlike dietary animal remains, in which meatbearing body
elements are disarticulate and often found in locations apart from the non-meatbearing
elements, the faunal remains found in the Persian pit represent complete animals.
The more detailed Stage 2 analysis of the animal bones found within the pit, together
with further excavations in the Persian Stratum 5 in upcoming seasons, will help to
determine whether these bones are the remains of sacrificed animals.
The preliminary Stage 1 quantitative analysis of the Chalcolithic, Iron and
Persian periods faunal assemblages from the first season of Phase III excavations
has provided the means for prompt detection of differences in animal resource
utilization employed by these respective inhabitants at Tell Halif. The more
detailed stage 2 analysis of these faunal assemblages will serve to clarify the
economic strategies employed by some of Tell Halif's varied inhabitants in
procuring meat resources and managing domestic sheep, goat, pig and cattle
populations. This information will be gathered from data which will include age
curves, sex profiles and body-part distributions. While awaiting the results of the
more time-consuming, detailed faunal study, this preliminary zooarchaeological
report serves as a monitor of shifts in dietary choices relative to cultural and
functional changes at Tell Halif over time.
Zooarchaeological research at Tell Halif would not be possible without
the inclusion of archaeological specialists in the research objectives and
goals of the Lahav Research Project directed by Joe Seger, Paul Jacobs and
Oded Borowski, nor without the generous support of the Cobb Institute of
Archaeology, Mississippi State University.
Reference Cited
Seger, J.D., et. al.
1990 The Bronze Age Settlements at Tell Halif: Phase II
Excavations, 1983-1987. Bulletin of the American
Schools of Oriental Research, Supplement 26:1-32.
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE FAUNAL MATERIAL FROM FIELD IV 1993 EXCAVATIONS AT TELL HALIF
Susan Arter - Smithsonian Institutlon
The goal of the Phase III faunal study is to document animal-based subsistence
practices at Tell Halif in the late 8th and early 7th centuries B.C. when the site
served as a fortified town within the network of country towns in southern Judah.
Analysis of the faunal material from this period will provide a more complete picture
of the town's lifeways by revealing the degree to which animals contributed to the
town's economic livelihood as sources of food, material products, traction and transport.
This report offers a preliminary overview of faunal material from the 1993 excavation
season in Field IV. Animal remains from the 1993 excavations in Field S101 will be addressed
by Melinda Zeder.
A total of 5,480 animal bones was recovered from Field IV during the 1993 excavation
season. A good portion of the assemblage came from well-stratified contexts associated
with the Iron II fortified town. However, bones were also recovered from Persian and
Byzantine period deposits, and from an intrusive trench dating to the modern Arab period
(Table 1).
Bone samples were collected by hand from all deposits. To maximize recovery of small
bone fragments deposits were sieved through 1/8 inch mesh. A sieve ratio of 1:1 was employed
for high priority contexts. Low priority loci were sieved at a 1:10 ratio. The preliminary
Stage 1 analysis of the assemblage involved identification and weighing of all bones by
species, subfamily and class to determine the variation and relative abundance of taxa.
Mammalian bones unidentifiable to subfamily or better were categorized by size as large,
medium or small(Zeder and Arter 1995). Modern comparative specimens were used to assist
with identifications.
Well-stratified deposits from the Iron Age II fortified town yielded a total of 1,419
bones. Results from the preliminary analysis are based on 1,366 bones from high priority
contexts. The faunal distribution is presented by taxon in Table 2.
Two notable patterns emerged from this sample. First, the data indicate a very
conservative dietary regime with close to 98% of all meat coming from domestic caprids
(sheep and goats), and cows (Figure 1). Pig remains were noticeably absent. Caprids
yielded the greatest source of meat and account for 87% of the identifiable specimens.
Cow remains represent 11% of the identifiable fauna. Bird and fish remains together
account for only 2% of the identifiable fauna and indicate their minimal dietary
contribution. This pattern holds true with the unidentifiable mammal remains where
medium-size bones (probably caprids) account for 91% of all unidentifiable mammals and
large-size bones (probably cows) represent only 8%. Small-size mammal bones account for
less than 1% of the these unidentifiable bones.
The second pattern is that sheep remains exceed those of the goats by a ratio of
2.2:1. The high proportion of sheep bones may reflect a culinary preference, and a
herd management strategy emphasizing wool production for use in the manufacture of
textiles. A cache of over 100 loomweights was recovered from an Iron II stone bin in
the 1992 season. Age curves for Iron II period caprids from previous Phase I and II
excavation seasons indicate that 15% of the caprids exceeded four years. Survival of
these animals beyond 2-3 years, the prime age for maximum meat weight, may signal
maintenance of older sheep for wool (Payne 1973; Uerpmann 1973).
Bone distributions described above for the 1993 Iron Age II sample closely mirror
those of the 1992 sample both in the type and relative numbers of species represented.
The pattern of meat consumption reflected in these data suggests a standard diet based
on domestic sheep, goats, and to a lesser extent cows. The small proportion of bird
and fish remains do represent a slight variation in meat resources. However, fish bones
are consistently found in microartifact samples taken from Iron II floors and surfaces
(Rosen 1993), suggesting that fish may have played a more significant dietary role than
is evidenced by the faunal assemblage recovered by hand and with the aid of a sieve.
The absence of pig bones from the 1992 and 1993 Iron II period deposits is notable,
especially when compared to Halif's Late Bronze faunal profile when pigs account for 3%
of the identifiable dietary remains (Seger et. al., 1990). The lack of pig remains
from the fortified Iron Age II town may be attributed to Israelite dietary prohibitions.
The use of animals for material products, traction and transport is also suggested
by the faunal material from the Israelite town at Halif. As noted above, the elevated
proportion of sheep remains may point to the harvest of wool for textile production.
Farming, a common livelihood among the occupants of many Judean towns during the 8th
Century B.C. (Mazar 1990), may have been a primary occupation of Halif's inhabitants
during this period. The cattle remains may attest not only to the consumption of beef,
but to the use of cows as draft animals for agricultural pursuits. Similarly, equids
witnessed in the assemblage may have facilitated movement of people, goods, and supplies
into and out of Halif. It is also likely that the canid bones are remnant of guard dogs
used to protect the town's inhabitants and their livestock.
Persian and Byzantine period strata which overlie the Iron II town were largely
disturbed or partially removed by trenching activity attributed to the modern Arab
period. A Persian stonelined silo first exposed in 1992 was excavated further in the
1993 season. The 33 bones recovered from the silo represent the only Persian period
faunal sample from the 1993 season. The identifiable specimens include three caprid
bones and one cow bone. The unidentifiable specimens are represented by 24 medium
mammal and five large mammal bones.
A large portion of the 1993 faunal assemblage was recovered from Byzantine period
strata. Although some lower sections of the Byzantine deposits remained intact, trenching
activity destroyed most of the related architectural remains making it impossible to
associate the deposits with occupational contexts. While destruction of architectural
remains prevents identification of the nature and function of the Byzantine occupation,
a profile of the animal remains is offered.
Byzantine period strata produced 2,485 bones, 2,133 of which came from secure deposits. The faunal distribution is shown in
Table 2. As in the Iron II period sheep, goats, and cattle predominate; however, several notable differences exist between animal
exploitation in the Byzantine versus Iron Age II period.
Most importantly, the Byzantine assemblage reflects a less restricted dietary
regime (Figure 1). Although caprids still constitute the primary source of meat their
numbers drop to 78% of the identifiable dietary specimens. In addition, the ratio of
sheep to goats decreases to .9:1 indicating a more even consumption of sheep and goat
meat. Beef consumption increases with cow bones making up 18% of the dietary remains.
Although the proportion of nonstandard food species accounts for only 3% of the
identifiable dietary specimens, the range of dietary fauna broadens to include birds,
fish, pig and deer. The presence of deer remains reflects the inclusion of hunting as
a supplemental meat procurement strategy. Mustelid (weasel-like mammals) and amphibian
specimens were also recovered though they are unlikely dietary remains.
Animal bones recovered from the Arab period do not warrant discussion. All faunal
specimens from this period were recovered from trench backfill.
The faunal remains from Iron Age II, Persian and Byzantine period strata from
the 1992 and 1993 seasons, together with additional faunal material expected from
Field IV during the third season of Phase III excavations, will undergo a detailed
Stage 2 analysis. This second more detailed study will gather information that can
be used to assess stock-breeding and consumption practices. Data on the age, and
when possible the sex, of animals will be gathered. Culling schedules generated
from these data reveal whether herding strategies favor meat maximization, wool
production, dairy herds or maintenance of a viable breeding population. The
distribution of body elements and the nature and location of butchery scars will
also be recorded to track meat distribution and highlight consumption practices.
Preliminary data reported here highlight species variation and relative
abundance during the Iron Age II and Byzantine periods. The Stage 2 analysis will
assess the nature of animal-based subsistence in the 8th century Judean town at
Tell Halif. Persian and Byzantine period fauna will also be examined during the
second stage of analysis.
References
Mazar, Amihai
1990 Archaeology of the Land of the Bible. Doubleday, New York.
Payne, Sebastian
1973 Kill-Off Patterns in Sheep and Goats: The Mandibles from Asvan Kale.
Anatolian Studies 23:281-303.
Rosen, Arlene
1993 Microartifact Analysis from the 1993 Season at Tel Halif. Lahav Research
Project 1993 Season, Report Part II: Preliminary Laboratory Reports.
Seger, J.D. et. al.
1990 The Bronze Age Settlements at Tell Halif: Phase II Excavations, 1983-1987.
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 26:1-31.
Uerpmann, H.
1973 Animal Bone Finds and Economic Archaeology: A Critical Study of
'Osteoarchaeological' Method. World Archaeology 4, 3:307-322.
Zeder, M. and Arter S.
1995 Patterns of Animal Utilization at Ancient Gordion. Paleorient.
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