Research program: From One Religion to Another: Continuity and Change of Food Practices in the Mediterranean World Before and After the Advent of Islam Address: Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne Centre de Recherche Jaussen & Savignac Institut d’Art et d’Archéologie 3, rue Michelet, 75006 Paris
La confrontation des sources littéraires et des données archéologiques s'avère importante pour es... more La confrontation des sources littéraires et des données archéologiques s'avère importante pour essayer de comprendre tout à la fois la mise en place des interdits alimentaires particuliers à une religion, les limites de la mise en pratique des interdits alimentaires et leur évolution dans le temps. Les interdits alimentaires et les restrictions sur la commensalité permettent à différents groupes religieux d'établir une frontière entre «eux» et «nous». Le corpus de textes normatifs appartenant aux droits religieux et civils interdisant la consommation d'aliments particuliers a été souvent étudié pour le judaïsme ou l'islam, moins souvent pour les polythéismes, le zoroastrisme ou le christianisme. Nous allons présenter la littérature normative et faire réfléchir sur les limites de sa mise en application, en nous appuyant sur l'archéozoologie qui peut fournir des données sur le décalage entre norme et pratique.
The confrontation of literary sources and archaeological data is important to try altogether to understand the implementation of dietary prohibitions peculiar to a religion, the limits of the practice of dietary prohibitions and their evolution over time. Food prohibitions and restrictions on commensality allow different religious groups to draw a line between 'them' and 'us'. The body of normative texts pertaining to religious and civil laws prohibiting the consumption of particular foods has often been studied for Judaism or Islam, less often for polytheisms, Zoroastrianism or Christianity. We intend to present the normative literature and to reflect on the limits of its implementation, relying on archaeozoology that can provide data on the discrepancy between norm and practice.
MONCHOT H. & BEAUVAL C. Chapitre IV. Les restes fauniques de l’Aumônerie 1 (Mirebeau, Vienne). In, VIVIER D. (sous dir.), Deux habitats troglodytiques des XIII e -XIX e siècles à Mirebeau, France. L'Association des Publications Chauvinoises, p. 75-85., 2018
Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-USR 3172 du CNRS), le programme de restauration et d’étude du t... more Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-USR 3172 du CNRS), le programme de restauration et d’étude du temple d’Opet a conduit à la fouille archéologique du parvis et des abords occidentaux du temple. Douze sondages ont été ouverts durant deux courtes campagnes en 2006 et 2007. Les investigations ont permis de reconnaître neuf phases d’occupation ou de construction sur le site, de recueillir un abondant mobilier (céramique, empreintes de sceau, matériel faunique, industrie lithique, petit mobilier, blocs décorés ou épigraphiés, statues) et de nombreuses données stratigraphiques. Dans cet ouvrage, chaque spécialiste présente les données brutes de ses recherches, données dont l’interprétation et la synthèse permettent de retracer les étapes de l’évolution du secteur sud-ouest du téménos d’Amon à Karnak, depuis sa première occupation au début du Moyen Empire, jusqu’à l’époque moderne.
The discovery of numerous cat remains, including many kittens, in various buildings (i.e., domest... more The discovery of numerous cat remains, including many kittens, in various buildings (i.e., domestic house, cistern, mosque) of the ancient harbour of Qalhāt in Oman is unique among faunal assemblages in the medieval Arabian Peninsula. In this study, a zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis (ageing, skeletal element distribution, pathologies) is conducted to understand the origin of the cats and to deepen our understanding of human–cat relations. Thus, concerning the cats found in Qalhāt, two hypotheses may explain their presence: they took refuge in one of the buildings and died in situ before the complete destruction of the structures, or the corpses may have been dumped in the structures during a phase of their abandonment, very likely for health reasons.
This article describes the numerous bone remains discovered in a Roman road station, a mansio, on... more This article describes the numerous bone remains discovered in a Roman road station, a mansio, on the Via Nova Traiana. The finds are exceptional and provide valuable insights into the daily life, environment, and economy of a road station. The assemblage is dominated by domestic species, mainly sheep/goat, followed, to a lesser extent, by chicken, cattle, and pigs. Beasts of burden (donkey, camel), hunted game (gazelle, hare), fish, and seashells complete the bone assemblage. Together, the zooarchaeological information allows us to discuss the procurement and role of meat in the diet of the residents and visitors to this station.
... For both samples, only completely fused bones (both proximal and distal extremities) were inc... more ... For both samples, only completely fused bones (both proximal and distal extremities) were included in the analysis. This choice clearly does not reflect the kind of samples that are generally available in most palaeontological or zooarch-aeological studies. ...
Report of the archaeological, geophysical, archaeozoological and topographical activities of the ... more Report of the archaeological, geophysical, archaeozoological and topographical activities of the French-Saudi mission in the oasis of al-Kharj, 80 km South of Riyadh, in the Central Province of Saudi Arabia carried out from September 20th to October 21st 2011. It ...
... This is also the case for Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic assem-blages from Warwasi and ... more ... This is also the case for Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic assem-blages from Warwasi and Ghar-e Khar in the Kermanshah region, Yafteh near Khoramabad, and Palegawra and Zarzi in Iraqi Kurdistan (Garrod, 1930; Turnbull & Reed, 1974; Turnbull, 1975; Hesse, 1989 ...
Cats are hypercarnivorous, opportunistic animals that have adjusted to anthropogenic environments... more Cats are hypercarnivorous, opportunistic animals that have adjusted to anthropogenic environments since the Neolithic period. Through humans, either by direct feeding and/or scavenging on food scraps, the diet of cats has been enriched with animals that they cannot kill themselves (e.g., large mammals, fish). Here, we conducted carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratio analysis to reconstruct the diet of medieval cats and investigate cat-human interactions in two medieval harbor sites (Qalhât, Oman and Siraf, Iran). The analysis included 28 cat individuals and 100 associated marine and terrestrial faunal samples pertaining to > 30 taxa. The isotopic results indicate a high marine proteinbased diet for the cats from Qalhât and a mixed marine-terrestrial (C 4) diet for the cats from Siraf. Cats at these sites most likely scavenged on both human food scraps and refuse related to fishing activities, with differences in the two sites most likely associated with the availability of marine resources and/ or the living conditions of the cats. By shedding light on the dietary habits of cats from two medieval harbors in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, this study illustrates the potential of stable isotope analysis in reconstructing human-cat interactions in the past. Cats are hypercarnivorous animals, requiring a threefold consumption of protein compared to omnivorous species 1. Their high protein requirements stem from their metabolic adaptation to use protein and fat as energy sources 2,3 , as well as from their increased need for certain amino acids, such as taurine and arginine, which they cannot synthesize themselves 4-6. With a preference for consuming multiple, small meals throughout the day 7 , cats prey on small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates 8-10 , with prey size decreasing with increasing hunger 11. Predation occurs also as part of teaching or playing and, thus, not always results in the consumption of the prey 12. However, both the predation rate and the prey diversity seem to be higher in rural areas, where anthropogenic food is scarcer 13. Being opportunistic hunters with an ability to adjust rapidly to changing environments 14 , wild cats seem to have exploited the new hunting grounds that emerged from the development of permanent settlements, following the onset of agricultural activities 15,16. This resulted in their adaptation to human presence, and later on to the consumption of foods facilitated by humans 17. Either from direct feeding and/or from scavenging on human food scraps, cats have acquired access to animal taxa that they are not able to kill themselves, such as large mammals and fish 18,19. Today, the pet food industry incorporates a wide range of ingredients, including even foods of plant origin, such as grains and vegetables 18,19. Unlike dogs 20 , a cat's digestive system is not adapted to starch-rich foods; however, milled and cooked plant material can be metabolized 7 , and constitute part of a healthy diet, provided that
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2012
"Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-U... more "Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-USR 3172 du CNRS), le programme de restauration et d’étude du temple d’Opet a conduit à la fouille archéologique du parvis et des abords occidentaux du temple. Douze sondages ont été ouverts durant deux courtes campagnes en 2006 et 2007. Les investigations ont permis de reconnaître neuf phases d’occupation ou de construction sur le site, de recueillir un abondant mobilier (céramique, empreintes de sceau, matériel faunique, industrie lithique, petit mobilier, blocs décorés ou épigraphiés, statues) et de nombreuses données stratigraphiques. Dans cet ouvrage, chaque spécialiste présente les données brutes de ses recherches, données dont l’interprétation et la synthèse permettent de retracer les étapes de l’évolution du secteur sud-ouest du téménos d’Amon à Karnak, depuis sa première occupation au début du Moyen Empire, jusqu’à l’époque moderne. "
Par le passé, les chats vivaient dans ou à proximité des zones d’habitations humaines et ont prof... more Par le passé, les chats vivaient dans ou à proximité des zones d’habitations humaines et ont profité de la ville comme source de nourriture et abri. La rareté des découvertes archéozoologiques rend pourtant difficile l’étude des populations félines. Naturellement, il est encore plus malaisé de tirer des conclusions sur leur mode de vie. Dans ce contexte, la découverte de centaines d’ossements, comprenant de nombreux chatons, dans plusieurs bâtiments du port médiéval de Qâlhat en Oman apparaît..
Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe - HAL - Cirad, 2017
Résumé : Depuis 2009, la mission archéologique maroco-française mène des recherches interdiscipli... more Résumé : Depuis 2009, la mission archéologique maroco-française mène des recherches interdisciplinaires sur le site montagnard d'Igîlîz (1354 m, Anti-Atlas, Maroc) implanté à 1354 m d'altitude en connexion avec des enquêtes ethnobotaniques sur les pratiques agro-pastorales dans les villages voisins. Les datations au radiocarbone calibrées indiquent des occupations entre le entre le X e et le XVI e-XVII e siècle, mais le site est principalement habité au XI e-XIII e siècle, notamment lors des débuts du mouvement almohade, dont il constitue l'épicentre. Les restes carbonisés de bois, graines et fruits découverts dans le site attestent 96plantes dont 18 de culture (céréales, légumineuses, légumes, aromatiques, fruitiers) et les plus anciens témoins matériels de l’utilisation de l’arganier (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). A côté d’une polyculture exprimée par le spectre des plantes cultivées, les résultats montrent qu’il était alors à la base de l’économie vivrière et du système agro-sylvo-pastoral de la montagne. Dans le paysage actuel local, l’arganeraie est réduite à une steppe arborée. Selon le mode d’exploitation des arbres, leur architecture est très variable : arbres abroutis ou élagués dans les parcours pastoraux, entretenus, taillés, irrigués, fumés ou non dans les espaces cultivés. Les résultats bioarchéologiques suggèrent que l’arganeraie médiévale devait être plus diversifiée tout en étant exploitée pour le combustible, le bâti, le fourrage et l’huile. Archaeobotanical research on the medieval argan forest in the Îgîlîz Mountain (Anti-Atlas, Morocco) Abstract Since 2009, a Moroccan and French archaeological mission developed an interdisciplinary research on the mountain site of Îgîlîz (1354 m a.s.l., Anti Atlas Morocco) in connexion with ethnobotanical survey on current farming practices in the neighbouring villages. The calibrated radiocarbon dates indicate a probable age for the occupation ranging from the 10th to the 16th-17th centuries A.D. However, the site was mainly inhabited during the 12th-13th century AD., particularly during the early Almohad era, as epicenter of the Almohad movement A plant inventory of 96 taxa was recorded from the archaeobotanical remains, including 18 cultivated tree and herbaceous plants (cereals, pulses, vegetables, condiments and fruit trees) with the earliest evidence of the use of argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). Charred wood and seeds of argan tree predominated in a wide range of contexts, indicating the major and staple role of this species in the medieval economy. Nowadays, the argan tree is the key element of a wooded-steppe. According to the mode of operation of the trees, tree architecture is very variable browsed and pruned trees in rangelands, maintained, pruned, irrigated, fertilized or not in cultivated areas. The bioarchaeological results suggest that the medieval argan woodland should be more diversified than at present, while being exploited for fuel, homebuilding, forage and oil. Keywords : Archaeobotany, Middle Ages - Almohad period, agro-sylvodiversity, argan forest, Mountains
Prehistoric stone structures are prominent and well studied in the Levantine desert margins. In n... more Prehistoric stone structures are prominent and well studied in the Levantine desert margins. In northern Arabia, however, such structures have received less attention. This article presents the results of investigations of a 35m-long stone platform, first constructed in the mid sixth millennium BC, overlooking the oasis of Dûmat al-Jandal in northern Saudi Arabia. Excavation of the platform has yielded bioarchaeological and cultural remains, along with evidence for several phases of construction and intermittent use down to the first millennium BC. Analysis of the platform and nearby tombs highlights the persistent funerary and ritual use of this area over millennia, illuminating nomadic pastoralist lifeways in prehistoric Arabia.
La confrontation des sources littéraires et des données archéologiques s'avère importante pour es... more La confrontation des sources littéraires et des données archéologiques s'avère importante pour essayer de comprendre tout à la fois la mise en place des interdits alimentaires particuliers à une religion, les limites de la mise en pratique des interdits alimentaires et leur évolution dans le temps. Les interdits alimentaires et les restrictions sur la commensalité permettent à différents groupes religieux d'établir une frontière entre «eux» et «nous». Le corpus de textes normatifs appartenant aux droits religieux et civils interdisant la consommation d'aliments particuliers a été souvent étudié pour le judaïsme ou l'islam, moins souvent pour les polythéismes, le zoroastrisme ou le christianisme. Nous allons présenter la littérature normative et faire réfléchir sur les limites de sa mise en application, en nous appuyant sur l'archéozoologie qui peut fournir des données sur le décalage entre norme et pratique.
The confrontation of literary sources and archaeological data is important to try altogether to understand the implementation of dietary prohibitions peculiar to a religion, the limits of the practice of dietary prohibitions and their evolution over time. Food prohibitions and restrictions on commensality allow different religious groups to draw a line between 'them' and 'us'. The body of normative texts pertaining to religious and civil laws prohibiting the consumption of particular foods has often been studied for Judaism or Islam, less often for polytheisms, Zoroastrianism or Christianity. We intend to present the normative literature and to reflect on the limits of its implementation, relying on archaeozoology that can provide data on the discrepancy between norm and practice.
MONCHOT H. & BEAUVAL C. Chapitre IV. Les restes fauniques de l’Aumônerie 1 (Mirebeau, Vienne). In, VIVIER D. (sous dir.), Deux habitats troglodytiques des XIII e -XIX e siècles à Mirebeau, France. L'Association des Publications Chauvinoises, p. 75-85., 2018
Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-USR 3172 du CNRS), le programme de restauration et d’étude du t... more Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-USR 3172 du CNRS), le programme de restauration et d’étude du temple d’Opet a conduit à la fouille archéologique du parvis et des abords occidentaux du temple. Douze sondages ont été ouverts durant deux courtes campagnes en 2006 et 2007. Les investigations ont permis de reconnaître neuf phases d’occupation ou de construction sur le site, de recueillir un abondant mobilier (céramique, empreintes de sceau, matériel faunique, industrie lithique, petit mobilier, blocs décorés ou épigraphiés, statues) et de nombreuses données stratigraphiques. Dans cet ouvrage, chaque spécialiste présente les données brutes de ses recherches, données dont l’interprétation et la synthèse permettent de retracer les étapes de l’évolution du secteur sud-ouest du téménos d’Amon à Karnak, depuis sa première occupation au début du Moyen Empire, jusqu’à l’époque moderne.
The discovery of numerous cat remains, including many kittens, in various buildings (i.e., domest... more The discovery of numerous cat remains, including many kittens, in various buildings (i.e., domestic house, cistern, mosque) of the ancient harbour of Qalhāt in Oman is unique among faunal assemblages in the medieval Arabian Peninsula. In this study, a zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis (ageing, skeletal element distribution, pathologies) is conducted to understand the origin of the cats and to deepen our understanding of human–cat relations. Thus, concerning the cats found in Qalhāt, two hypotheses may explain their presence: they took refuge in one of the buildings and died in situ before the complete destruction of the structures, or the corpses may have been dumped in the structures during a phase of their abandonment, very likely for health reasons.
This article describes the numerous bone remains discovered in a Roman road station, a mansio, on... more This article describes the numerous bone remains discovered in a Roman road station, a mansio, on the Via Nova Traiana. The finds are exceptional and provide valuable insights into the daily life, environment, and economy of a road station. The assemblage is dominated by domestic species, mainly sheep/goat, followed, to a lesser extent, by chicken, cattle, and pigs. Beasts of burden (donkey, camel), hunted game (gazelle, hare), fish, and seashells complete the bone assemblage. Together, the zooarchaeological information allows us to discuss the procurement and role of meat in the diet of the residents and visitors to this station.
... For both samples, only completely fused bones (both proximal and distal extremities) were inc... more ... For both samples, only completely fused bones (both proximal and distal extremities) were included in the analysis. This choice clearly does not reflect the kind of samples that are generally available in most palaeontological or zooarch-aeological studies. ...
Report of the archaeological, geophysical, archaeozoological and topographical activities of the ... more Report of the archaeological, geophysical, archaeozoological and topographical activities of the French-Saudi mission in the oasis of al-Kharj, 80 km South of Riyadh, in the Central Province of Saudi Arabia carried out from September 20th to October 21st 2011. It ...
... This is also the case for Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic assem-blages from Warwasi and ... more ... This is also the case for Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic assem-blages from Warwasi and Ghar-e Khar in the Kermanshah region, Yafteh near Khoramabad, and Palegawra and Zarzi in Iraqi Kurdistan (Garrod, 1930; Turnbull & Reed, 1974; Turnbull, 1975; Hesse, 1989 ...
Cats are hypercarnivorous, opportunistic animals that have adjusted to anthropogenic environments... more Cats are hypercarnivorous, opportunistic animals that have adjusted to anthropogenic environments since the Neolithic period. Through humans, either by direct feeding and/or scavenging on food scraps, the diet of cats has been enriched with animals that they cannot kill themselves (e.g., large mammals, fish). Here, we conducted carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratio analysis to reconstruct the diet of medieval cats and investigate cat-human interactions in two medieval harbor sites (Qalhât, Oman and Siraf, Iran). The analysis included 28 cat individuals and 100 associated marine and terrestrial faunal samples pertaining to > 30 taxa. The isotopic results indicate a high marine proteinbased diet for the cats from Qalhât and a mixed marine-terrestrial (C 4) diet for the cats from Siraf. Cats at these sites most likely scavenged on both human food scraps and refuse related to fishing activities, with differences in the two sites most likely associated with the availability of marine resources and/ or the living conditions of the cats. By shedding light on the dietary habits of cats from two medieval harbors in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, this study illustrates the potential of stable isotope analysis in reconstructing human-cat interactions in the past. Cats are hypercarnivorous animals, requiring a threefold consumption of protein compared to omnivorous species 1. Their high protein requirements stem from their metabolic adaptation to use protein and fat as energy sources 2,3 , as well as from their increased need for certain amino acids, such as taurine and arginine, which they cannot synthesize themselves 4-6. With a preference for consuming multiple, small meals throughout the day 7 , cats prey on small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates 8-10 , with prey size decreasing with increasing hunger 11. Predation occurs also as part of teaching or playing and, thus, not always results in the consumption of the prey 12. However, both the predation rate and the prey diversity seem to be higher in rural areas, where anthropogenic food is scarcer 13. Being opportunistic hunters with an ability to adjust rapidly to changing environments 14 , wild cats seem to have exploited the new hunting grounds that emerged from the development of permanent settlements, following the onset of agricultural activities 15,16. This resulted in their adaptation to human presence, and later on to the consumption of foods facilitated by humans 17. Either from direct feeding and/or from scavenging on human food scraps, cats have acquired access to animal taxa that they are not able to kill themselves, such as large mammals and fish 18,19. Today, the pet food industry incorporates a wide range of ingredients, including even foods of plant origin, such as grains and vegetables 18,19. Unlike dogs 20 , a cat's digestive system is not adapted to starch-rich foods; however, milled and cooked plant material can be metabolized 7 , and constitute part of a healthy diet, provided that
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2012
"Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-U... more "Initié en 2005 par le CFEETK (MSA-USR 3172 du CNRS), le programme de restauration et d’étude du temple d’Opet a conduit à la fouille archéologique du parvis et des abords occidentaux du temple. Douze sondages ont été ouverts durant deux courtes campagnes en 2006 et 2007. Les investigations ont permis de reconnaître neuf phases d’occupation ou de construction sur le site, de recueillir un abondant mobilier (céramique, empreintes de sceau, matériel faunique, industrie lithique, petit mobilier, blocs décorés ou épigraphiés, statues) et de nombreuses données stratigraphiques. Dans cet ouvrage, chaque spécialiste présente les données brutes de ses recherches, données dont l’interprétation et la synthèse permettent de retracer les étapes de l’évolution du secteur sud-ouest du téménos d’Amon à Karnak, depuis sa première occupation au début du Moyen Empire, jusqu’à l’époque moderne. "
Par le passé, les chats vivaient dans ou à proximité des zones d’habitations humaines et ont prof... more Par le passé, les chats vivaient dans ou à proximité des zones d’habitations humaines et ont profité de la ville comme source de nourriture et abri. La rareté des découvertes archéozoologiques rend pourtant difficile l’étude des populations félines. Naturellement, il est encore plus malaisé de tirer des conclusions sur leur mode de vie. Dans ce contexte, la découverte de centaines d’ossements, comprenant de nombreux chatons, dans plusieurs bâtiments du port médiéval de Qâlhat en Oman apparaît..
Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe - HAL - Cirad, 2017
Résumé : Depuis 2009, la mission archéologique maroco-française mène des recherches interdiscipli... more Résumé : Depuis 2009, la mission archéologique maroco-française mène des recherches interdisciplinaires sur le site montagnard d'Igîlîz (1354 m, Anti-Atlas, Maroc) implanté à 1354 m d'altitude en connexion avec des enquêtes ethnobotaniques sur les pratiques agro-pastorales dans les villages voisins. Les datations au radiocarbone calibrées indiquent des occupations entre le entre le X e et le XVI e-XVII e siècle, mais le site est principalement habité au XI e-XIII e siècle, notamment lors des débuts du mouvement almohade, dont il constitue l'épicentre. Les restes carbonisés de bois, graines et fruits découverts dans le site attestent 96plantes dont 18 de culture (céréales, légumineuses, légumes, aromatiques, fruitiers) et les plus anciens témoins matériels de l’utilisation de l’arganier (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). A côté d’une polyculture exprimée par le spectre des plantes cultivées, les résultats montrent qu’il était alors à la base de l’économie vivrière et du système agro-sylvo-pastoral de la montagne. Dans le paysage actuel local, l’arganeraie est réduite à une steppe arborée. Selon le mode d’exploitation des arbres, leur architecture est très variable : arbres abroutis ou élagués dans les parcours pastoraux, entretenus, taillés, irrigués, fumés ou non dans les espaces cultivés. Les résultats bioarchéologiques suggèrent que l’arganeraie médiévale devait être plus diversifiée tout en étant exploitée pour le combustible, le bâti, le fourrage et l’huile. Archaeobotanical research on the medieval argan forest in the Îgîlîz Mountain (Anti-Atlas, Morocco) Abstract Since 2009, a Moroccan and French archaeological mission developed an interdisciplinary research on the mountain site of Îgîlîz (1354 m a.s.l., Anti Atlas Morocco) in connexion with ethnobotanical survey on current farming practices in the neighbouring villages. The calibrated radiocarbon dates indicate a probable age for the occupation ranging from the 10th to the 16th-17th centuries A.D. However, the site was mainly inhabited during the 12th-13th century AD., particularly during the early Almohad era, as epicenter of the Almohad movement A plant inventory of 96 taxa was recorded from the archaeobotanical remains, including 18 cultivated tree and herbaceous plants (cereals, pulses, vegetables, condiments and fruit trees) with the earliest evidence of the use of argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). Charred wood and seeds of argan tree predominated in a wide range of contexts, indicating the major and staple role of this species in the medieval economy. Nowadays, the argan tree is the key element of a wooded-steppe. According to the mode of operation of the trees, tree architecture is very variable browsed and pruned trees in rangelands, maintained, pruned, irrigated, fertilized or not in cultivated areas. The bioarchaeological results suggest that the medieval argan woodland should be more diversified than at present, while being exploited for fuel, homebuilding, forage and oil. Keywords : Archaeobotany, Middle Ages - Almohad period, agro-sylvodiversity, argan forest, Mountains
Prehistoric stone structures are prominent and well studied in the Levantine desert margins. In n... more Prehistoric stone structures are prominent and well studied in the Levantine desert margins. In northern Arabia, however, such structures have received less attention. This article presents the results of investigations of a 35m-long stone platform, first constructed in the mid sixth millennium BC, overlooking the oasis of Dûmat al-Jandal in northern Saudi Arabia. Excavation of the platform has yielded bioarchaeological and cultural remains, along with evidence for several phases of construction and intermittent use down to the first millennium BC. Analysis of the platform and nearby tombs highlights the persistent funerary and ritual use of this area over millennia, illuminating nomadic pastoralist lifeways in prehistoric Arabia.
Localización: Zona arqueológica, Nº. 13, 2010 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Actas de la 1ª Reunión de cie... more Localización: Zona arqueológica, Nº. 13, 2010 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Actas de la 1ª Reunión de científicos sobre cubiles de hiena (y otros grandes carnívoros) en los yacimientos arqueológicos de la Península Ibérica), págs. 108-117
Depuis quelques années, une équipe de recherche a été formée par l'institut ... more Depuis quelques années, une équipe de recherche a été formée par l'institut culturel Avataq autour de l'étude du site Tayara (KbFk-7), localisé sur le détroit d'Hudson, au Nunavik dans le nord du Québec. Ce site paléoesquimau est d'une importance clé pour comprendre la ...
Résumé :
Depuis 2009, la mission archéologique maroco-française mène des recherches interdiscipl... more Résumé : Depuis 2009, la mission archéologique maroco-française mène des recherches interdisciplinaires sur le site montagnard d'Igîlîz (1354 m, Anti-Atlas, Maroc) implanté à 1354 m d'altitude en connexion avec des enquêtes ethnobotaniques sur les pratiques agro-pastorales dans les villages voisins. Les datations au radiocarbone calibrées indiquent des occupations entre le entre le X e et le XVI e-XVII e siècle, mais le site est principalement habité au XI e-XIII e siècle, notamment lors des débuts du mouvement almohade, dont il constitue l'épicentre. Les restes carbonisés de bois, graines et fruits découverts dans le site attestent 96plantes dont 18 de culture (céréales, légumineuses, légumes, aromatiques, fruitiers) et les plus anciens témoins matériels de l’utilisation de l’arganier (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). A côté d’une polyculture exprimée par le spectre des plantes cultivées, les résultats montrent qu’il était alors à la base de l’économie vivrière et du système agro-sylvo-pastoral de la montagne. Dans le paysage actuel local, l’arganeraie est réduite à une steppe arborée. Selon le mode d’exploitation des arbres, leur architecture est très variable : arbres abroutis ou élagués dans les parcours pastoraux, entretenus, taillés, irrigués, fumés ou non dans les espaces cultivés. Les résultats bioarchéologiques suggèrent que l’arganeraie médiévale devait être plus diversifiée tout en étant exploitée pour le combustible, le bâti, le fourrage et l’huile.
Archaeobotanical research on the medieval argan forest in the Îgîlîz Mountain (Anti-Atlas, Morocco)
Abstract Since 2009, a Moroccan and French archaeological mission developed an interdisciplinary research on the mountain site of Îgîlîz (1354 m a.s.l., Anti Atlas Morocco) in connexion with ethnobotanical survey on current farming practices in the neighbouring villages. The calibrated radiocarbon dates indicate a probable age for the occupation ranging from the 10th to the 16th-17th centuries A.D. However, the site was mainly inhabited during the 12th-13th century AD., particularly during the early Almohad era, as epicenter of the Almohad movement A plant inventory of 96 taxa was recorded from the archaeobotanical remains, including 18 cultivated tree and herbaceous plants (cereals, pulses, vegetables, condiments and fruit trees) with the earliest evidence of the use of argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). Charred wood and seeds of argan tree predominated in a wide range of contexts, indicating the major and staple role of this species in the medieval economy. Nowadays, the argan tree is the key element of a wooded-steppe. According to the mode of operation of the trees, tree architecture is very variable browsed and pruned trees in rangelands, maintained, pruned, irrigated, fertilized or not in cultivated areas. The bioarchaeological results suggest that the medieval argan woodland should be more diversified than at present, while being exploited for fuel, homebuilding, forage and oil. Keywords : Archaeobotany, Middle Ages - Almohad period, agro-sylvodiversity, argan forest, Mountains
In the Roman Empire, a mansio (from the Latin word mansus, the perfect passive participle of mane... more In the Roman Empire, a mansio (from the Latin word mansus, the perfect passive participle of manere, "to remain" or "to stay") was an official stopping place on a Roman road or via (in our case the via nova Traiana, which connected the city of Bostra, capital of the province, to Aila, port on the Red Sea, now Aqaba), maintained by the central government for the use of officials and those on official business whilst traveling.
Quid novum ad mensam hodie? So what was the menu when a traveler arrived after a long journey? Indeed, if we could stay and sleep in a mansio, we could also find something to eat. This is the question that the archaeozoological study will attempt to answer; it is the study of all the faunal remains that were consumed or at least present in the hostel. The great interest of the mansio of Samra is that it represents a unique structure, away from the village, which was not re-used or modified after its destruction. In addition, all the faunal elements were found in the different loci (rooms) of the building allowing or not to confirm the function of each room (e.g., kitchen, stable).
The archaeozoological study (n = 5081) shows a predominance of caprids (sheep/goat), followed by chicken, pork and beef. While these animals were likely consumed, the presence of some remains of horses, camel, and dog is more equivocal. Gazelle, hare, ostrich, fishes and seashells were also identified among the bone assemblage. It will be important in future studies to compare the results obtained here with those from Roman levels in the village (e.g., “white” building, or others such as the church) as well as from different periods (Byzantine, Islamic), giving us a clear outline of the evolution of subsistence practices and lifestyle through time.
L’Homme et l’Animal au Maghreb, de la Préhistoire au Moyen Âge, 2021
L’article propose une synthèse préliminaire sur l’étude des vestiges osseux recueillis en abondan... more L’article propose une synthèse préliminaire sur l’étude des vestiges osseux recueillis en abondance dans les niveaux médiévaux de la Qasba d’Îgîlîz, berceau de la révolution almohade (XII e siècle) dans l’Anti-Atlas marocain. Les caprinés et le bœuf dominent largement cet assemblage osseux et l’étude archéozoologique (i.e., profil de mortalité, représentation squelettique, étude des traces de découpe) montre que ces ossements consistent en déchets culinaires. D’autres questions sont également esquissées à titre exploratoire, comme celle de l’approvisionnement en alimentation carnée d’une communauté montagnarde, et celle d’une consommation différenciée de la viande par certaines composantes de cette communauté.
Le Qalhât Development Project a extensivement fouillé depuis 2013
plusieurs bâtiments de fonction... more Le Qalhât Development Project a extensivement fouillé depuis 2013 plusieurs bâtiments de fonctions variées sur le site portuaire médiéval de Qalhât en Oman (12e-16e siècles). Parmi ceux-ci une structure d’habitat (B94), en fait deux maisons accolées présentant chacune plusieurs pièces autour d’une cour, et un étage. Construit au 14e siècle sur l’arase d’un bâtiment antérieur, cet édifice fut occupé jusqu’à l’abandon de la ville dans la seconde moitié du 16e siècle. Il a livré de nombreuses traces d’activité domestiques et artisanales, essentiellement centrées sur la transformation des produits de l’agriculture, de la pêche et de l’élevage. L’analyse détaillée des restes archéobotaniques, archéozoologiques et ichtyologiques apporte des informations très intéressantes sur le quotidien des habitants de la maison, les techniques mises en œuvre et l’économie locale. Associée à l’étude du matériel et notamment des nombreuses céramiques d’importation, elle fournit un aperçu significatif de la vie d’un grand port omanais de l’époque d’Hormuz.
Qalhât was a main Omani coastal city on the Indian Ocean in the 12th to 16th century and several buildings were extensively excavated there in the course of the Qalhât Development Project (2013sq). Among them is house B94, made of two contiguous units with several rooms around a courtyard. B94 was built in the 14th century on the erased level of an earlier building, and it was occupied until the abandonment of the city in the second half of the 16th. It delivered many traces of domestic and craft activities, which are mostly related to the processing of products from agriculture and fishing. The study of archaeobotanical, archaeozoological and ichtyological material brings interesting information as to the daily life of the inhabitants, the local technics and economy of a great harbour of the Hormuz kingdom.
Al-Kharj I. Report on two excavation seasons in the oasis of al-Kharj (2011–2012). Saudi Arabia, 2016
J. Schiettecatte & A. al-Ghazzi (dir.). Al-Kharj I. Report on two excavation seasons in the oasis... more J. Schiettecatte & A. al-Ghazzi (dir.). Al-Kharj I. Report on two excavation seasons in the oasis of al-Kharj (2011–2012). Saudi Arabia (Series of Archaeological Refereed studies, No. 40), Riyad, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, ISBN 978-603-8136-34-8, 378 pp.
Results of two archaeological field season in the oasis of al-Kharj - Saudi Arabia.
Le Cheval, l’Âne et la Mule dans les Empires de l’Orient ancien. Des Néo-Assyriens aux Sassanides Du monde méditerranéen à l’Asie centrale., 2022
Résumé : Situé à 30 km au sud-est de Kaboul, dans la province du Lôgar à plus de 2200 m d’altitud... more Résumé : Situé à 30 km au sud-est de Kaboul, dans la province du Lôgar à plus de 2200 m d’altitude, le site archéologique de Mes Aynak est directement lié à l’exploitation d’une mine antique de cuivre. Elle est occupée en continu du I er siècle au VII e VIII e siècles ap. J.-C., mais les plus anciennes exploitations remontent au moins à la deuxième moitié du I er millénaire avant notre ère. L’exploitation intensive de la mine antique semble coïncider avec l’arrivée des Kouchans et se poursuivre sous l’occupation Sassanide. L’étude archéozoologique a montré la présence d’un grand nombre de restes d’ânes (Equus asinus). Plusieurs individus ont été repérés, jetés dans des zones dépotoirs en périphérie des zones d’habitation. Si les ânes ont été largement utilisés pour le transport du minerai sur le site, voire des biens et des personnes, plusieurs indices suggèrent que certains individus auraient été consommés. Les ânes apparaissent ainsi comme un animal incontournable dans l’économie d’un bourg minier situé en région montagneuse. Abstract : Located 30 km south-east from Kabul, in the Lôgar province at an altitude of over 2200 m, the archaeological site of Mes Aynak is directly linked to the exploitation of an ancient copper mine, from the 1 st century AD era to the 7 th -8 th centuries AD, but the oldest mining operations go back at least to the second half of the 1 st millennium BC. The intensive exploitation of the ancient mine seems to coincide with the arrival of the Kouchans and a continuation of the occupation by the Sassanids. The zooarchaeological study showed the presence of a large number of remains of donkeys (Equus asinus). Several individuals were thus thrown into dump areas on the outskirts of residential areas. If donkeys were widely used to transport ore through the site or even goods and people, several indications show that some individuals would have been consumed. Donkeys appear as a key element in the economy of a mining town located in a mountainous region.
Résumé. Également appelé « Chameau d’Arabie », le dromadaire fait figure de véritable icône au se... more Résumé. Également appelé « Chameau d’Arabie », le dromadaire fait figure de véritable icône au sein des mammifères vivants dans les déserts d’Arabie. Sa domestication a ainsi bouleversé l’économie des tribus arabes locales, qui l’utilise non seulement pour la consommation de viande et de lait, mais aussi comme animal de transport des biens (route de l’encens, route de la soie), des personnes et bien entendu pour la guerre. Cet article se propose de faire une rapide synthèse sur son origine et son arrivée dans le monde eurasiatique, et sur son importance culturelle au sein des différentes civilisations, en insistant sur sa consommation ou pas, en confrontant tout particulièrement les données textuelles religieuses et historiques et archéozooologiques.
Abstract Also known as “Arabian camel”, the dromedary is a true icon within the living mammals in the deserts of Arabia. Its domestication has thus upset the economy of the local Arab tribes, which uses it not only for the consumption of meat and milk, but also as a beast of burden for the transport of goods (incense road, silk road), people and of course for the war. This article aims at a quick overview of its origin and its arrival in the Eurasian world, and its cultural importance within the different civilizations, by insisting on its consumption or not, by confronting particularly the religious and historical textual data and zooarchaeological information.
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Books by Hervé Monchot
The confrontation of literary sources and archaeological data is important to try altogether to understand the implementation of dietary prohibitions peculiar to a religion, the limits of the practice of dietary prohibitions and their evolution over time. Food prohibitions and restrictions on commensality allow different religious groups to draw a line between 'them' and 'us'. The body of normative texts pertaining to religious and civil laws prohibiting the consumption of particular foods has often been studied for Judaism or Islam, less often for polytheisms, Zoroastrianism or Christianity. We intend to present the normative literature and to reflect on the limits of its implementation, relying on archaeozoology that can provide data on the discrepancy between norm and practice.
Les investigations ont permis de reconnaître neuf phases d’occupation ou de construction sur le site, de recueillir un abondant mobilier (céramique, empreintes de sceau, matériel faunique, industrie lithique, petit mobilier, blocs décorés ou épigraphiés, statues) et de nombreuses données stratigraphiques.
Dans cet ouvrage, chaque spécialiste présente les données brutes de ses recherches, données dont l’interprétation et la synthèse permettent de retracer les étapes de l’évolution du secteur sud-ouest du téménos d’Amon à Karnak, depuis sa première occupation au début du Moyen Empire, jusqu’à l’époque moderne.
Papers by Hervé Monchot
The confrontation of literary sources and archaeological data is important to try altogether to understand the implementation of dietary prohibitions peculiar to a religion, the limits of the practice of dietary prohibitions and their evolution over time. Food prohibitions and restrictions on commensality allow different religious groups to draw a line between 'them' and 'us'. The body of normative texts pertaining to religious and civil laws prohibiting the consumption of particular foods has often been studied for Judaism or Islam, less often for polytheisms, Zoroastrianism or Christianity. We intend to present the normative literature and to reflect on the limits of its implementation, relying on archaeozoology that can provide data on the discrepancy between norm and practice.
Les investigations ont permis de reconnaître neuf phases d’occupation ou de construction sur le site, de recueillir un abondant mobilier (céramique, empreintes de sceau, matériel faunique, industrie lithique, petit mobilier, blocs décorés ou épigraphiés, statues) et de nombreuses données stratigraphiques.
Dans cet ouvrage, chaque spécialiste présente les données brutes de ses recherches, données dont l’interprétation et la synthèse permettent de retracer les étapes de l’évolution du secteur sud-ouest du téménos d’Amon à Karnak, depuis sa première occupation au début du Moyen Empire, jusqu’à l’époque moderne.
Depuis 2009, la mission archéologique maroco-française mène des recherches interdisciplinaires sur le site montagnard d'Igîlîz (1354 m, Anti-Atlas, Maroc) implanté à 1354 m d'altitude en connexion avec des enquêtes ethnobotaniques sur les pratiques agro-pastorales dans les villages voisins. Les datations au radiocarbone calibrées indiquent des occupations entre le entre le X e et le XVI e-XVII e siècle, mais le site est principalement habité au XI e-XIII e siècle, notamment lors des débuts du mouvement almohade, dont il constitue l'épicentre. Les restes carbonisés de bois, graines et fruits découverts dans le site attestent 96plantes dont 18 de culture (céréales, légumineuses, légumes, aromatiques, fruitiers) et les plus anciens témoins matériels de l’utilisation de l’arganier (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). A côté d’une polyculture exprimée par le spectre des plantes cultivées, les résultats montrent qu’il était alors à la base de l’économie vivrière et du système agro-sylvo-pastoral de la montagne. Dans le paysage actuel local, l’arganeraie est réduite à une steppe arborée. Selon le mode d’exploitation des arbres, leur architecture est très variable : arbres abroutis ou élagués dans les parcours pastoraux, entretenus, taillés, irrigués, fumés ou non dans les espaces cultivés. Les résultats bioarchéologiques suggèrent que l’arganeraie médiévale devait être plus diversifiée tout en étant exploitée pour le combustible, le bâti, le fourrage et l’huile.
Archaeobotanical research on the medieval argan forest in the Îgîlîz Mountain (Anti-Atlas, Morocco)
Abstract
Since 2009, a Moroccan and French archaeological mission developed an interdisciplinary research on the mountain site of Îgîlîz (1354 m a.s.l., Anti Atlas Morocco) in connexion with ethnobotanical survey on current farming practices in the neighbouring villages. The calibrated radiocarbon dates indicate a probable age for the occupation ranging from the 10th to the 16th-17th centuries A.D. However, the site was mainly inhabited during the 12th-13th century AD., particularly during the early Almohad era, as epicenter of the Almohad movement A plant inventory of 96 taxa was recorded from the archaeobotanical remains, including 18 cultivated tree and herbaceous plants (cereals, pulses, vegetables, condiments and fruit trees) with the earliest evidence of the use of argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels). Charred wood and seeds of argan tree predominated in a wide range of contexts, indicating the major and staple role of this species in the medieval economy. Nowadays, the argan tree is the key element of a wooded-steppe. According to the mode of operation of the trees, tree architecture is very variable browsed and pruned trees in rangelands, maintained, pruned, irrigated, fertilized or not in cultivated areas. The bioarchaeological results suggest that the medieval argan woodland should be more diversified than at present, while being exploited for fuel, homebuilding, forage and oil.
Keywords : Archaeobotany, Middle Ages - Almohad period, agro-sylvodiversity, argan forest, Mountains
Quid novum ad mensam hodie? So what was the menu when a traveler arrived after a long journey? Indeed, if we could stay and sleep in a mansio, we could also find something to eat. This is the question that the archaeozoological study will attempt to answer; it is the study of all the faunal remains that were consumed or at least present in the hostel. The great interest of the mansio of Samra is that it represents a unique structure, away from the village, which was not re-used or modified after its destruction. In addition, all the faunal elements were found in the different loci (rooms) of the building allowing or not to confirm the function of each room (e.g., kitchen, stable).
The archaeozoological study (n = 5081) shows a predominance of caprids (sheep/goat), followed by chicken, pork and beef. While these animals were likely consumed, the presence of some remains of horses, camel, and dog is more equivocal. Gazelle, hare, ostrich, fishes and seashells were also identified among the bone assemblage. It will be important in future studies to compare the results obtained here with those from Roman levels in the village (e.g., “white” building, or others such as the church) as well as from different periods (Byzantine, Islamic), giving us a clear outline of the evolution of subsistence practices and lifestyle through time.
plusieurs bâtiments de fonctions variées sur le site portuaire médiéval de Qalhât en Oman (12e-16e siècles). Parmi ceux-ci une structure d’habitat (B94), en fait deux maisons accolées présentant chacune plusieurs pièces autour d’une cour, et un étage. Construit au 14e siècle sur l’arase d’un bâtiment antérieur, cet édifice fut occupé jusqu’à l’abandon de la ville dans la seconde moitié du 16e siècle. Il a livré de nombreuses traces d’activité domestiques et artisanales, essentiellement centrées sur la transformation des produits de l’agriculture, de la pêche et de l’élevage. L’analyse détaillée des restes archéobotaniques, archéozoologiques et ichtyologiques apporte des informations très intéressantes sur le quotidien des habitants de la maison, les techniques mises en œuvre et l’économie locale. Associée à l’étude du matériel et notamment des nombreuses céramiques d’importation, elle fournit un aperçu significatif de la vie d’un grand port omanais de l’époque d’Hormuz.
Qalhât was a main Omani coastal city on the Indian Ocean in the 12th to 16th century and several buildings were extensively excavated there in the course of the Qalhât Development Project (2013sq). Among them is house B94, made of two contiguous units with several rooms around a courtyard. B94 was built in the 14th century on the erased level of an earlier building, and it was occupied until the abandonment of the city in the second half of the 16th. It delivered many traces of domestic and craft activities, which are mostly related to the processing of products from agriculture and fishing. The study of archaeobotanical, archaeozoological and ichtyological material brings interesting information as to the daily life of the inhabitants, the local technics and economy of a great harbour of the Hormuz kingdom.
Results of two archaeological field season in the oasis of al-Kharj - Saudi Arabia.
Abstract : Located 30 km south-east from Kabul, in the Lôgar province at an altitude of over 2200 m, the archaeological site of Mes Aynak is directly linked to the exploitation of an ancient copper mine, from the 1 st century AD era to the 7 th -8 th centuries AD, but the oldest mining operations go back at least to the second half of the 1 st millennium BC. The intensive exploitation of the ancient mine seems to coincide with the arrival of the Kouchans and a continuation of the occupation by the Sassanids. The zooarchaeological study showed the presence of a large number of remains of donkeys (Equus asinus). Several individuals were thus thrown into dump areas on the outskirts of residential areas. If donkeys were widely used to transport ore through the site or even goods and people, several indications show that some individuals would have been consumed. Donkeys appear as a key element in the economy of a mining town located in a mountainous region.
Abstract Also known as “Arabian camel”, the dromedary is a true icon within the living mammals in the deserts of Arabia. Its domestication has thus upset the economy of the local Arab tribes, which uses it not only for the consumption of meat and milk, but also as a beast of burden for the transport of goods (incense road, silk road), people and of course for the war. This article aims at a quick overview of its origin and its arrival in the Eurasian world, and its cultural importance within the different civilizations, by insisting on its consumption or not, by confronting particularly the religious and historical textual data and zooarchaeological information.