A zooarchaeological study of changing meat supply and butchery practices at medieval castles in England
This thesis investigates the changing meat supply and butchery practices at medieval castles in England. The analysis represents a departure from prevailing zooarchaeological butchery studies in that it considers the importance of analysing butchery patterns to gain a better understanding of social status, diet and changes in how animals were exploited over time and in various geographic locations in England. This research highlights the potential of butchery studies and reveals previously unestablished information about how butchery was carried out, how meat was supplied and the practical and social reasoning behind why animals were slaughtered and consumed in a certain way. A butchery methodology was implemented for identifying significant patterns detailing where butchery marks were occurring on bone. The methodology was tested on assemblages from three castle sites: Edlingham Castle, Portchester Castle and Beeston Castle. The methodology is further carried out in the form of assessments for comparison, on animal bone assemblages from medieval urban sites in Newcastle, Winchester and Chester. The methodology is successful in showing that analysing butchery practices of an animal bone assemblage, has the
Foster, Hayley Jane
Zooarchaeology ; Butchery
A zooarchaeological study of changing meat supply and butchery practices at medieval castles in England. This thesis investigates the changing meat supply and butchery practices at medieval castles in England. The analysis represents a departure from prevailing zooarchaeological butchery studies in that it considers the importance of analysing butchery patterns to gain a better understanding of social status, diet and changes in how animals were exploited over time and in various geographic locations in England. This research highlights the potential of butchery studies and reveals previously unestablished information about how butchery was carried out, how meat was supplied and the practical and social reasoning behind why animals were slaughtered and consumed in a certain way. A butchery methodology was implemented for identifying significant patterns detailing where butchery marks were occurring on bone. The methodology was tested on assemblages from three castle sites: Edlingham Castle, Portchester Castle and Beeston Castle. The methodology is further carried out in the form of assessments for comparison, on animal bone assemblages from medieval urban sites in Newcastle, Winchester and Chester. The methodology is successful in showing that analysing butchery practices of an animal bone assemblage, has the
zooarchaeological study change meat supply butchery practice medieval castle england investigates change meat supply butchery practice medieval castle england analysis represent departure prevail zooarchaeological butchery study_considers importance analyse butchery pattern gain well social_status diet change animal exploit time various geographic location england highlight_potential butchery study reveal previously information butchery carry meat supply practical social reason_behind animal slaughter consume certain way butchery implement identify significant pattern detail butchery mark occur bone test assemblage castle site castle castle castle carry form assessment comparison animal_bone assemblage medieval_urban site newcastle winchester chester successful show analysing butchery practice animal_bone assemblage