I resti faunistici provenienti dal saggio sotto il vano XIX a Festòs (The faunal remains from the trench-pits conducted beneath room XIX at Phaistos)

S. Masala Creta Antica 10/I (2009): 97-103.

Abstract

The faunal remains include a bone sample comprised of 679 fragmentary bones and 86 sea-shells. These finds have been divided into two groups: one attributed to the FN and the other to a period ranging from FN to MM IB. Both groups are largely comprised of sheep/goats, followed by pigs and cattle. Dog, marine turtle and agrimi are attested by very scant remains. In the FN-MM IB group, sheep/goats are prevalent over the other domesticated species – pigs and cattle – which are instead well represented in the FN sam­ple. The bi-valvis Glycymeris is the most represented species among the sea-shells. The murex (Trunculariopsis trunculus and Thais haemastoma), the Semicassis undulata, the patelle (Patella caerulea) and the tellina (Donax), might also have had use as food. These species document the exploitation of both rocky and sandy coastlines, and of the sea-bottom. The cut marks and burning traces attested on the bones show that this sample was mainly formed of food remains.