The Role of Zooarchaeology in the Study of the Western Roman Empire

Book excerpt: 10 chapters by different authors arising from two conferences, one held in 2014 by the Roman Archaeology conference, the other in 2014 y the ZRPWG. The aim is to present colleagues specializing in other branches of Roman archaeology some of the latest zooarchaeological work. The focus is on the Western Empire, especially on Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Britain. Following the prologue and introduction by Martyn Allen comes a survey of the history of the discipline from a Romano-British perspective (Mark Maltby). Next come three overlapping themes: the pastoral economy (chapters by Tony King, Sabine Deschler-Erb & Maaike Groot, Michael MacKinnon), the exploitation of wild and exotic animals (chapters by Jacopo De Grossi Mazzorin & Claudia Minniti; Holly Miller, Naomi Sykes & Christopher Ward) and ritual practices through animal sacrifice, religious offerings and feasting (chapters by Rachel Hesse; C. Corbino, Ornella Fonzo and Nancy de Grummond; and Martyn Allen). This last chapter focusses on the role that feasting, and particularly meat consumption, played in social relationships as southern Britain came to terms with Rome's growing influence.