Description

Summary: Cow remains from a sample excavation on the site of an early Iron Age midden at Stanton St Bernard, untertaken in 2003-04 by Historic England and Sheffield University.

Research results

Cow remains recovered during excavations carried out at Stanton St. Bernard between 2003 and 2004 by Historic England and Sheffield University. Recognised as a 'Black earth' site, these trial excavations suggest that the site is similar in character to the middens found at Potterne and East Chisenbury. Examination of the faunal assemblage suggests that the majority of animals were kept for their meat or traction later in life, although a small proportion of animals slaughtered before the age of one suggests limited exploitation of cow's milk. 19 incidences of butchery were identified, occuring on six different types of bone.

These remains were sampled by Figgitt (2019) for isotopic analyis as part of thier MSc with the University of Cardiff. The study, which investigated animal husbandry at All Cannings Cross and Stanton St. Bernard, used stable Carbon and Nitrogen isotope values in order to make inferences about the diets of pigs, cattle and sheep found on site. The results suggest that pigs at both sites had more varied and nitrogen rich diets than cattle and sheep, probably reflecting an element of foraging in their diet as well as what may have been smaller household-scale husbandry practices. At both sites a potential group of individuals was also identified who all may have had more consistent diets, perhaps suggesting that this picture was not universal, however.

The faunal remains from the midden sites at Stanton St. Bernard and All Cannings Cross were examined by Simms (2019) as part of their MSc with the University of Cardiff. Examination of the composition, mortality rates and butchery evidence at both sites revealed a mixed economy that was primarily focussed on the exploitation of sheep wool at both sites, but also that sheep's milk relatively more important at Stanton St. Bernard than at All Cannings. By contrast, cattle appear to have been primarily kept for their meat and traction, with little evidence for significant exploitation of cow's milk. Butchery evidence from the sites suggest that skilled butchers removed as much meat as possible prior to cooking, with Simms even arguing that the degree of stantardisation may imply that it had been undertaken by specialist butchers.

The faunal remains from this archaeological archive were sampled (destructive analysis), as part of the FEASTNET project, led by Dr Richard Madgwick, Cardiff University. The results of the project are published here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fearc.2023.1221581/full. 'Farming and Feasting during the Bronze Age - Iron Age Transition in Britain (ca. 900 - 500 bce): multi-isotope evidence for societal change. A joint paper by Richard Madgwick, Carmen Esposito and Angela Lamb. Published 2023.