Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T19:42:58.892Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

In piscibus diversis; the Bone Evidence for Fish Consumption in Roman Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2010

Alison Locker
Alison Locker
Affiliation:
Menton, France, [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Fish bone assemblages from 109 sites were analysed for evidence of Roman influence on fish consumption. Temporal divisions within the period were not informative, but sites were divided by region. Secondary evidence, including amphorae and fishing tackle, was also considered. Eel was most common overall but some species were regionally important, e.g. salmon. Towns and villas showed the greatest range of fish, from freshwater and inland marine fisheries and also imported salted fish and fish-sauce. Native sites continued to show restricted fish consumption from very local sources, while Roman sites suggested an increase in variety and some evidence for status, which may result from cultural change in culinary practices.

Keywords

Roman BritainRoman dietfish bone (Roman)fish-sauce (garum)fish consumptionRoman cooking
Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 38 , November 2007 , pp. 141 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © Alison Locker 2007. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alcock, J. 2001: Food in Roman Britain, StroudGoogle Scholar
Armitage, P.L. 2000a: Fish from Long Lane. LGK99, unpub. report for PreConstruct ArchaeologyGoogle Scholar
Armitage, P.L. 2000b: Fish from Southwark Cathedral MTA99, unpub. report for PreConstruct ArchaeologyGoogle Scholar
Armitage, P.L. 2002a: Fish from the New Wolfson Wing BHB00, unpub. report for PreConstruct ArchaeologyGoogle Scholar
Armitage, P.L. 2002b: Fish from Swan Street SWN98, unpub. report for PreConstruct ArchaeologyGoogle Scholar
Armitage, P.L. 2005a: Fish from the Babe Ruth Site HGA02, unpub. report for PreConstruct ArchaeologyGoogle Scholar
Armitage, P.L. 2005b: Fish from Tobacco Dock TOC02, unpub. report for PreConstruct ArchaeologyGoogle Scholar
Ayton, W. 1998: Salmon Fisheries in England and Wales, Atlantic Salmon Trust, PitlochryGoogle Scholar
Barber, B., and Bowsher, D. 2000: The Eastern Cemetery of Roman London: Excavations 1983–90, MoLAS Monograph 4, London (K. Rielly p. 73)Google Scholar
Barrett, J., Locker, A., and Roberts, C. 2004: ‘The origins of intensive marine fishing in Medieval Europe: the English evidence’, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. 04PB0328, 1–5Google Scholar
Bateman, N., and Locker, A. 1982: ‘The sauce of the Thames’, The London Archaeologist Vol. 4, No. 8, 204–7Google Scholar
Bekker-Nielsen, T. 2002a: ‘Fish in the ancient economy’, in Ascani, K. (ed.), Ancient History Matters. Studies Presented to Jeris Erik Skydsgaard on his Seventieth Birthday, Analecta Romana Instituti Danici, Supp. 30, Rome, 29–37Google Scholar
Bekker-Nielsen, T. 2002b: ‘Nets, boats and fishing in the Roman World’, Classica et Mediaevalia 53, 215–33Google Scholar
Buckland, P. 1976: ‘The environmental evidence from the Church Street Roman sewer system’, in The Archaeology of York. The Past Environment of York 14 (1), York, 1–44Google Scholar
Campbell, J. (ed.) 1982: The Anglo Saxons, LondonGoogle Scholar
Ceron-Carrasco, R. 2002: The Fish Remains from Inveresk, unpub. report for AOC Archaeology, EdinburghGoogle Scholar
Coy, J. 1987: ‘Birds and fish’, in Woodward, P.J., Romano-British Industries in Purbeck. Excavations at Ower and Rope Lake, Dorset Nat. Hist. Arch. Soc. Monograph 6, Dorchester, 114, 117, 178Google Scholar
Curtis, R.I. 1991: Garum and Salsamenta. Production and Commerce in Materia Medica, LeidenCrossRefGoogle Scholar
R., Davies 1971: ‘The Roman military diet’, Britannia 2, 122–42Google Scholar
Desse-Berset, N., and Desse, J. 2000: ‘Salsamenta, garum et autres préparations de poissons’, MEFRA 112, 73–9Google Scholar
Dobney, K., and Ervynck, A. 2006: ‘To fish or not to fish? Evidence for the possible avoidance of fish consumption during the Iron Age around the North Sea’, in Hazelgrove, C. and Moore, T. (eds), The Later Iron Age in Britain and Beyond, Oxford, 403–18CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ejstrud, B. 2005: ‘Size matters: estimating trade of wine, oil and fish-sauce from amphorae in the frst century AD’, in Bekker-Nielsen, T. (ed.), Ancient Fishing and Fish Processing in the Black Sea Region, AarhusGoogle Scholar
Enghoff, I. 2000: ‘Fishing in the Southern North Sea region from the 1st to the 16th century AD: evidence from fish bones’, Archaeofauna 9, 59–132Google Scholar
Ervynck, A. 1997: Review of K.M. Dobney, S.D. Jacques and B.G. Irving, Of Butchers and Breeds: Report on Vertebrate Remains from Various Sites in Lincoln in International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 7, 252–3Google Scholar
Ervynck, A., van Neer, W., Huster-Plogmannn, H., and Schibler, J. 2003: ‘Beyond affuence: the zooarchaeology of luxury’, World Archaeology 34(3), 428–41CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flower, B., and Rosenbaum, E. 1980: The Roman Cookery Book. A Critical Translation of The Art of Cookery by Apicius, LondonGoogle Scholar
Forster, E.S., and Heffner, A.M. 1968: Columella.II. De Re Rustica, Loeb Classical Library. No. 407, LondonGoogle Scholar
Fox, H. 2001: The Evolution of a Fishing Village: Landscape and Society along the South Devon Coast, 1086–1550, Leicester Explorations in Local History 1, OxfordGoogle Scholar
Hamilton-Dyer, S. 1993a: ‘The sieved material and the fish remains’, in Smith, R., Excavations at County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, 1988, Wessex Archaeology Report 4, Salisbury, 80–1Google Scholar
Hamilton-Dyer, S. 1993b: ‘Fish remains’, in Woodward, P., Davies, S. and Graham, A. (eds), Excavations at the Old Methodist Chapel and Greyhound Yard, Dorchester 1981–1984, Dorset Nat. Hist. Arch. Soc. Monograph 12, Dorchester, 345Google Scholar
Hamilton-Dyer, S. 1996: ‘Animal bone’, in J. McKinley and M. Heaton, ‘An RB farmstead and associated burials at Maddington Farm, Shrewton’, Wilts. Arch. & Nat. Hist. Mag. 89, 63–5Google Scholar
Hamilton-Dyer, S. 1997: ‘The animal bones’, in M. Fulford et al., ‘Silchester: excavations at the North Gate, on the North Walls and in the Northern Suburbs 1988 and 1991–3’, Britannia 28, 131–5Google Scholar
Hamilton-Dyer, S. 1999: ‘Animal bone’, in J. McKinley, ‘Further excavation of an Iron Age and Romano-British enclosed settlement at Figheldean, nr Netheravon’, Wilts. Arch. & Nat. Hist. Mag. 92, 25–7Google Scholar
Hamilton-Dyer, S. 2000: ‘The fish remains’, in Fulford, M. and Timby, J., Late Iron Age and Roman Silchester. Excavations on the Site of the Forum-Basilica 1977, 1980–6, Britannia Monograph 15, London, 485Google Scholar
Hoffmann, R. 1995: ‘Environmental change and the culture of common carp in Medieval Europe’, in Guelph Ichthyology Reviews 3, Institute of Ichthyology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 57–85Google Scholar
Ingrem, C. 2000: The Animal Bone from Romano-British Deposits at Atlantic Road, Newquay, Cornwall, unpub. report for the Cornwall Archaeology UnitGoogle Scholar
Ingrem, C. 2004: The Fish Bones from Fishbourne Roman Palace, Sussex, Unpub. report for Sussex Archaeological SocietyGoogle Scholar
Ingrem, C. 2006: ‘Fish remains’, in Fulford, M., Clarke, A. and Eckardt, H., Life and Labour in Late Roman Silchester. Excavations in Insula IX since 1997, Britannia Monograph 22, London, 167–88, 183Google Scholar
Irving, B. 1996: ‘Fish’, in Dobney, K., Jacques, S. and Irving, B., Of Butchers and Breeds: Report on the Vertebrate Remains from Various Sites in the City of Lincoln, Lincoln Archaeological Studies 5, Lincoln, 53–6Google Scholar
Jacques, D., Hall, A., Kenward, H., and Carrott, J. 2004: Technical Report: Plant, Invertebrate, and Fish Remains fromExcavations at 25 Bridge Street, Chester, unpub. Palaeoecology Research Services 2004/46, 20–6Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1977: ‘The fish bones’, in M. Bell, ‘Excavations at Bishopstone’, Sussex Arch. Coll. 115, 284–5Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1978: ‘The fish remains’, in Dennis, G., 1–7 St Thomas Street. Southwark Excavations 1972–4. Part II, Joint Publication No. 1 London Middlesex Arch. Soc. & Surrey Arch. Soc., London, 414, 416Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1983: Fish and Amphibian Remains from North Shoebury, Essex, unpub. Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 3892. English Heritage.Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1986: Fish Remains from Excavations at Canvey Island. Site 1. 1986, unpub. Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 22/86. English Heritage.Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1988a: ‘Fish bones from excavations in the cemetery of St Mary Bishophill Junior’, in O'Connor, T. (ed.), Bones from the General Accident Site, Tanner Row, The Archaeology of york, The Animal Bones. 15/2, York, 126–30Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1988b: ‘Fish bones (199 Borough High Street)’, in Hinton, P., Excavations in Southwark 1973–76, Lambeth 1973–9, Joint Publication No. 3 London Middlesex Arch. Soc. & Surrey Arch. Soc., London, 431–3Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1996: ‘Fishes’, in May, J., Dragonby. Report on the Excavation of an Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement in N. Lincs, Oxbow Monograph 61, Oxford, 164–5Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 1997: ‘Fishes’, in Hostetter, E. and Howe, T.N. (eds), The Romano-British Villa at Castle Copse, Great Bedwyn, Indianopolis, 334–8Google Scholar
Jones, A.K.G. 2001: The Fish Remains from Dee House, Chester, unpub.Google Scholar
Jones, G.B.D., and Shotter, O.C.A. 1998: Roman Lancaster. Rescue Archaeology in a Historic City 1970–5, Briganta Monograph 1, LancasterGoogle Scholar
King, A. 1999: ‘Diet in the Roman World: a regional inter-site comparison of the mammal bones’, JRA 12, 168–202Google Scholar
Lernau, O., Cotton, H., and Goren, Y. 1996: ‘Salted fish and fish sauces from Masada. A preliminary report’, Archaeofauna 5, 35–41Google Scholar
Liddle, J. 1988: The Fish. 2–5 Devonshire Square, London, unpub. MoLAS Archive reportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. no date: The Fish Bones from Hayling Island, unpub.Google Scholar
Locker, A. no date: The Fish from a Well at Beddington Roman Villa, unpub.Google Scholar
Locker, A. 1981: Chichester, Sussex (CH/77/CS ES 29). The Fish Bones, unpub. archive reportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1985: Castle Street, Carlisle: The Fish Remains, unpub. Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 4510. English HeritageGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1986a: Canterbury: The Fish Remains from Marlowe Sites 1–1V, unpub. Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 118/87. English HeritageGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1986b: Colchester, Gilberd School. The Fish Bones, unpub. Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 4868. English HeritageGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1986c: Rangoon Street: The Fish Bones from Context 1238, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1990: ‘The fish bones’, in Neal, D., Wardle, A. and Hunn, J., Excavation of the Iron Age, Roman and Medieval Settlement at Gorhambury, St Albans, English Heritage Report 14, London, 212Google Scholar
Locker, A. 1991: The Fish Bones from Calverts Buildings, 15–23 Southwark St, London SE1, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1992a: ‘The fish bones’, in Crummy, P., Culver Street, Colchester Archaeological Report 6, Colchester, 278–80Google Scholar
Locker, A. 1992b: The Fish Remains from Roman Deposits at Waterfront Sites, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1992c: The Fish Bones from Billingsgate 1982, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1992d: The Fish Remains from Roman Deposits in Waterfront Sites. Draft Paper, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1993: The Fish from Godmanchester, unpub.Google Scholar
Locker, A. 1994: The Fish Bones from the Fleet Valley; Sites VAL 88 and PWB 88, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1995: The Fish Bones from Fennings Wharf, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1996: ‘The fish bones’, in P. Ashbee, ‘Halangy Down, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Excavations 1964–1977’, Cornish Archaeology 35 (issued 1999), 115, 118Google Scholar
Locker, A. 1997a: ‘Appendix 9. Fish bones’, in Barker, P., White, R., Pretty, K., Bird, H. and Corbishley, M., The Baths Basilica Wroxeter. Excavations 1966–90, English Heritage Archaeological Report 8, London, 365–7Google Scholar
Locker, A. 1997b: The Fish Bones from Great Yard, Ilchester, unpub.Google Scholar
Locker, A. 1998a: The Fish from Rectory Farm, West Deeping, Lincs., unpub. report for the Environmental Archaeology ConsultancyGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1998b: The Fish Bones from Excavations at Elm Farm, nr Maldon, Essex, unpub. report for Essex County CouncilGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1998c: The Fish from LeFevre Road, Bow, unpub. report for the Environmental Archaeology ConsultancyGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 1998d: The Fish from Parnell Road, Bow, unpub. report for the Environmental Archaeology ConsultancyGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 2002: The Fish from Excavations at the Former Post Offce, Head Street, Colchester, unpub. report for the Colchester Archaeological TrustGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 2004: The Fish from Meppershall, Beds, LMB01, unpub. report for the Environmental Archaeology ConsultancyGoogle Scholar
Locker, A. 2006: ‘Omega 3: Rents, Lent and Charity’, Petit Propos Culinaire 80, Totnes, 93–121Google Scholar
Lubinski, P.M. 1996: ‘Fish heads, an experiment in differential bone preservation in a salmonid fish’, Journal of Archaeological Science 23, 175–81CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maitland, P., and Campbell, R. 1992: Freshwater Fishes, LondonGoogle Scholar
Matthews, J. 2001: The Celtic Shaman, LondonGoogle Scholar
Matthews, J. 2002: Celtic Totemic Animals, GlastonburyGoogle Scholar
Morales Muniz, A. 1993: ‘Where are the tunas? Ancient Iberian fishing industries from an archaeozoological perspective’, in Clason, A., Payne, S. and Uerpmann, H.-P. (eds), Skeletons in her Cupboard. Festschrift to Juliet Clutton-Brock, Oxbow Monograph 34, Oxford, 135–41Google Scholar
Murphy, P., Albarella, U., Germany, M., and Locker, A. 2000: ‘Production, imports and status. Biological remains from a Late Roman farm at Great Holts Farm, Boreham, Essex, UK’, Environmental Archaeology 5, 35–48CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Museum of London Archaeological Service Oracle archive of City SitesGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, R. 1992: Fish Remains from Excavations at the Shires, Little Lane (A39) and St Peter's Lane ((A40), Leicester 1988, Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 56/92, English HeritageGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, R. 1993a: The Fish Remains from Excavations at Ribchester, Lancashire, 1989–90, Ancient MonumentsLaboratory Report 121/93, English HeritageGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, R. 1993b: The Fish Remains from Excavations at The Lanes, Carlisle, unpub. report, Environmental Archaeology unit, university of yorkGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, R. 1995: ‘Fish remains’, in Andrews, P., Excavations at Redcastle Furze, Thetford, East Anglian Report 72, Dereham, 128–30Google Scholar
Nicholson, R. 1999: ‘Fish remains’, in Connor, A. and Buckley, R., Roman and Medieval Occupation in Causeway Lane, Leicester. Excavations 1980 & 1991, Leicester Archaeology Monograph 5, Leicester, 333–7Google Scholar
Nicholson, R., and Scott, S. 2004: ‘The fish remains’, in Dalwood, H. and Edmonds, R., Excavations at Deansway, Worcester 1988–9. Romano-British Town to Late Medieval City, CBA Report 139, york, 515–19Google Scholar
O'Connor, T. 1988: Bones from the General Accident Site, The Archaeology of york. The Animal Bones 15/2, yorkGoogle Scholar
Parftt, S. 1995: ‘Small vertebrates’, in F. Aldsworth and D.Rudling, ‘Excavations at Bignor Roman Villa, West Sussex 1985–90’, Sussex Arch. Coll. 133, 173Google Scholar
Ratcliffe, J., and Straker, V. 1996: The Early Environment of Scilly, Cornwall Archaeological UnitGoogle Scholar
Ross, A. 1967: Pagan Celtic Britain, LondonGoogle Scholar
Rowsome, P., and Burch, M. 1992: Excavations at 17 Fish Street Hill and Monument Street, London EC3. (MF 187). Docklands Light Railway City Extension Archaeological Project, unpub. MoLAS Archive ReportGoogle Scholar
Richards, M., and Hedges, R. 1998: ‘Isotope analysis reveals variations in human diet at the Poundbury Camp cemetery site’, Journal of Archaeological Science 25, 1247–52CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richmond, I. 1968: Hod Hill. Vol II. Excavations carried out between 1951 and 1958, LondonGoogle Scholar
Smith, P. 1993: ‘Appendix 2: fish remains from Birdoswald’, in Izard, K., The Animal Bones from Birdoswald, CAS site 420. Cumbria. 1986–1990, unpub. Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 13/93. English HeritageGoogle Scholar
Starkey, D., Reid, C., and Ashcroft, N. 2000: England's Sea Fisheries. The Commercial Sea Fisheries of England and Wales since 1300, LondonGoogle Scholar
Stallibrass, S. 2002: ‘Animal bones from Thornborough Farm’, in Wilson, P.R., Cataractonium: Roman Catterick and its Hinterland. Excavations and Research, 1958–1997. Part II, CBA Research Report 129, York, 431–3Google Scholar
Toynbee, J.M.C. 1973: Animals in Roman Life and Art, LondonGoogle Scholar
Turk, F. 1984: ‘A study of the vertebrate remains from May's Hill, St Martins’, Cornish Studies II (for 1983), 69–80.Google Scholar
van Neer, W., and Ervynck, A. 2004: ‘Remains of traded fish in archaeological sites: indicators of status or bulk food?’, in Jones O'Day, S., van Neer, W. and Ervynck, A. (eds), Behaviour Behind Bones. The Zooarchaeology of Ritual, Religion, Status and Identity. Proceedings of the 9th Conference of the International Council of Zooarchaeology, Durham, 2002, Oxford, 203–14Google Scholar
van Neer, W., Lernau, O., Friedman, P., Mumford, G., Poblome, J., and Waelkens, M. 2004: ‘Fish remains from archaeological sites as indicators of former trade connections in the Eastern Mediterranean’, Palaeorient. 30/1, 101–48Google Scholar
van Neer, W., Wouters, W., Ervynck, A., and Maes, J. 2005: ‘New evidence from a Roman context in Belgium for fish sauce produced locally in Northern Gaul’, Archaeofauna 14, 171–82Google Scholar
Vissler, M. 1991: The Rituals of Dinner, LondonGoogle Scholar
Webster, G. 1964: ‘Further investigations on the site of a Roman fort at Waddon Hill, Stoke Abbott 1960–2’, Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist. & Arch. Soc. 86, 144Google Scholar
Webster, G. 1979: ‘Final report on the excavations of the Roman fort at Waddon Hill, Stoke Abbott 1963–9’, Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist. & Arch. Soc. 101, 90Google Scholar
Wheeler, A. 1974: ‘Fish remains’, in Thomas, D., Excavations at Billingsgate Buildings, Lower Thames Street, London, London Middlesex Arch. Soc. Special Paper 4, London, 161–2Google Scholar
Wheeler, A. 1978: Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe, LondonGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, A. 1979: The Tidal Thames, LondonGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, A. 1981: ‘Fish bones’, in Partridge, C., Skeleton Green. A Late Iron Age and Romano-British Site, Britannia Monograph 2, London, 242–3Google Scholar
Wheeler, A. 1984: ‘Fish bones’, in Miles, D. (ed.), Archaeology at Barton Court Farm, Abingdon, Oxon., Oxford Archaeological Report 3; CBA Research Report 50, York (microfche)Google Scholar
Wheeler, A. 1993: ‘The fish’, in Woodward, A. and Leach, P., The Uley Shrines. Excavation of a Ritual Complex on West Hill, Uley, Gloucestershire 1977–9, English Heritage Archaeological Report 17, London, 264–5Google Scholar
White, J., and Tallboys, G. 2002: The Path through the Forest. A Druid Guidebook, CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Wilkinson, M. 1979: ‘The fish remains’, in Maltby, M., The Animal Bones from Exeter 1971–1975, Exeter Archaeological Report 2, Exeter, 74–81Google Scholar
Williamson, R. 1991: Salmon Fisheries in Scotland, Atlantic Salmon Trust, PitlochryGoogle Scholar
Wilson, C.A. 1973: Food and Drink in Britain, LondonGoogle Scholar
Yule, B. 1989: ‘Excavation at Winchester Palace, Southwark’, The London Archaeologist Vol. 6. No. 2, 31–9Google Scholar
Yule, B. 2005: A Prestigious Roman Building Complex on the Southwark Waterfront: Excavations at Winchester Palace, London. 1983–90, MoLAS Monograph 23, LondonGoogle Scholar
Zeepat, R. 1988: ‘Fishponds in Roman Britain’, in Aston, M. (ed.), Medieval Fish, Fisheries and Fishponds in England. Part I, BAR British Series 182 (1), Oxford, 17–26Google Scholar