Wstępne wyniki badań zooarcheologicznych szczątków kostnych z wykopalisk prowadzonych na Rynku krakowskim w latach 2005–2007

Abstract

PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTS OF SKELETAL REMAINS UNEARTHED DURING THE EXCAVATIONS IN MAIN MARKET SQUARE IN KRAKOW IN THE YEARS 2005–2007

Resurfacing works were undertaken in Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) in Kraków in 2005 and continued until the end of 2007. Archaeological excavations were carried out parallel to these works; as a result, approximately 75,000 bone remains and few hundred sediment samples were provided for investigation. We would like to present preliminary results of the zooarchaeological analysis of the skeletal material. The remains of domestic and farm animals are predominant in the collection. The mammalian representatives of that group include cows, pigs, goats/sheep, dogs, and horses. The bird’s bones which are prevalent in the material come from chickens and geese. A few remains of wild animals were discovered as well, including these of a hare, a roe deer, a red deer, a squirrel, a red fox, and a lynx. The birds living in the wild are represented in the analyzed skeletal finds by a black grouse, a capercailzie, a sparrow hawk, and a partridge. The analysis of the sediment samples revealed a large number the remains of fish scales, insects, snail shells and shellfish. Bones of mammals bear traces of human activity, such as cutmarks, percussion marks, and fractures. Such marks were made during the skinning and dismembering of carcasses. Surprisingly, as compared to the above traces of mechanical activity, the burned fragments are not numerous in the analyzed material. It is very probable that some of the animal bones remained on the ground surface for longer periods. This suggestion is confirmed by partially very extensive gnawing marks left by dogs as well as the traces of trampling. The surfaces of some fragments of bones bear numerous scratches and are partly polished as a result of very intensive trampling. The initial results of the analysis allow us to state that the bones found during the excavations are remains of the activities pursued in the market place. For example, animal carcasses were butchered at this location. Some of the less nutritious or less useful skeletal parts were thrown away and probably remained on the ground for a longer period of time, when they were gnawed by dogs and trampled by people and animals.