Bones from the labyrinth : faunal evidence for management and consumption of animals at Neolithic and Bronze Age Knossos, Crete
Animals feature extensively in the iconography and written records of Bronze Age Crete, and in archaeological debates ranging from initial colonisation in the 7th millennium BC, through expansion of settlement across the island in the 4th-3rd millennia, to surplus mobilisation and feasting by the 2nd millennium palaces. To date, however, faunal remains---the most widely available evidence for human use of animals---have been neglected: detailed reports of large assemblages are non-existent and faunal evidence features rarely in works of synthesis. This thesis undertakes a diachronic study of a large faunal assemblage from Knossos---the largest and longest-lived site on Crete. The faunal assemblage derives from different excavations and areas, enforcing careful evaluation of retrieval, modification by previous analysts, survival and, where archaeological information permits, contextual variation in discard behaviour. Attrition is lower in built-up than open areas through the 7-3 millennia, and very low in the suggested 'public/elite' core area of 2nd millennium Knossos. Butchery into big 'parcels' and subsequent dispersal of bones in the former period suggests reciprocal sharing, while intensive butchery and
Isaakidou, Valasia
Bones from the labyrinth : faunal evidence for management and consumption of animals at Neolithic and Bronze Age Knossos, Crete. Animals feature extensively in the iconography and written records of Bronze Age Crete, and in archaeological debates ranging from initial colonisation in the 7th millennium BC, through expansion of settlement across the island in the 4th-3rd millennia, to surplus mobilisation and feasting by the 2nd millennium palaces. To date, however, faunal remains---the most widely available evidence for human use of animals---have been neglected: detailed reports of large assemblages are non-existent and faunal evidence features rarely in works of synthesis. This thesis undertakes a diachronic study of a large faunal assemblage from Knossos---the largest and longest-lived site on Crete. The faunal assemblage derives from different excavations and areas, enforcing careful evaluation of retrieval, modification by previous analysts, survival and, where archaeological information permits, contextual variation in discard behaviour. Attrition is lower in built-up than open areas through the 7-3 millennia, and very low in the suggested 'public/elite' core area of 2nd millennium Knossos. Butchery into big 'parcels' and subsequent dispersal of bones in the former period suggests reciprocal sharing, while intensive butchery and
bones faunal evidence management consumption animal neolithic bronze age knossos crete animals feature extensively iconography write_record bronze_age_crete archaeological debate range initial colonisation millennium expansion settlement_across island surplus mobilisation feasting palace date however faunal_remains the widely available_evidence human use animal have neglect detailed report large_assemblage non_existent faunal evidence feature rarely work synthesis undertakes diachronic_study large faunal_assemblage knossos the large lived site crete faunal_assemblage derive different excavation area enforce careful evaluation retrieval modification previous analyst survival archaeological information permit contextual variation discard behaviour attrition low built open_area low suggest public elite core_area knossos butchery big subsequent dispersal bone former period suggest reciprocal sharing intensive butchery