Umberto Albarella
I have a first degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Naples (Italy), but I became interested in anthropology and then archaeology since I was a second year undergraduate student back in 1982. In the 80’s I was actively engaged in archaeological fieldwork in Italy and then became involved in a three year project funded by the Italian government that gave me the opportunity to study large assemblages of animal bones from urban Roman and medieval sites in Naples.
In 1991 I worked in England for the first time, thanks to a scholarship from the Institute of Archaeology (London). I then went back to Italy to teach Bioarchaeology at the University of Lecce but in 1993 I moved permanently back to England.
I worked at English Heritage (London) 1993-5, the University of Birmingham 1995-2000 and the University of Durham from 2000 to 2004, when I eventually moved to the University of Sheffield. I have had a great diversity of experiences in my career and my research has taken me to many different countries, but I love living and working in Sheffield, where I have created a vibrant research team in zooarchaeology. In addition to my interest in past human-animal relationships, which is my main area of research, I believe in the political responsibility of archaeologists towards issues of social justice.
Phone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Address: Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
In 1991 I worked in England for the first time, thanks to a scholarship from the Institute of Archaeology (London). I then went back to Italy to teach Bioarchaeology at the University of Lecce but in 1993 I moved permanently back to England.
I worked at English Heritage (London) 1993-5, the University of Birmingham 1995-2000 and the University of Durham from 2000 to 2004, when I eventually moved to the University of Sheffield. I have had a great diversity of experiences in my career and my research has taken me to many different countries, but I love living and working in Sheffield, where I have created a vibrant research team in zooarchaeology. In addition to my interest in past human-animal relationships, which is my main area of research, I believe in the political responsibility of archaeologists towards issues of social justice.
Phone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Address: Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
less
InterestsView All (15)
Uploads
Early medieval chickens from Rome appear to have had the largest body size. The requirements of the market did not seem to have imposed an improvement in chicken size in later centuries.
Early medieval chickens from Rome appear to have had the largest body size. The requirements of the market did not seem to have imposed an improvement in chicken size in later centuries.
In the past, the analysis of this bird has been mainly focussed on taxonomic identification, while other important aspects such as sex ratio, selection of breeds, changes in size and management through time have been neglected.
The method of analysis of domestic fowl remains from archaeological sites proposed in this study is based on the experience acquired recording thousands of chicken bones. These specimens come from sites located in central Italy, with a chronology spanning from the Roman period to the Middle Ages.
The identification is based on the diagnostic zone method, purposely adapted to birds. The study of age classes is supported by biometrical analyses aimed to detect bone development in immature specimens. Sexing bird remains is based on the presence or absence of the spur, the development of medullary bone inside the marrow cavity of selected anatomical elements and biometrical data. Furthermore, breed selection and size changes were investigated using biometry.
This research is focused on chicken, pigeon, goose and duck remains recovered from medieval sites in Italy. Relative frequencies, mortality pattern and sex indicators by period and site phase are analysed. At all sites, chicken is the most frequent domestic bird while goose importance increased in the course of the Middle Ages. Duck and pigeon remains, when recorded, represent a marginal occurrence. High frequencies of juvenile bones, often recorded at rural sites, seem to be related to local breeding and specialised forms of exploitation. While chickens were sometimes slaughtered when still young, geese were generally kept alive longer. Development of medullary bone and spur presence were both used to assess the sex ratio. The quantity of medullary bone in the hens’ lower limb bones has disclosed information about different forms of chicken management. Biometrical analyses are used to discriminate between breeds, as well as wild and domestic forms. In particular, duck and goose identifications were aided by the application of a new system developed by our research team.
This study shows how domestic birds can highlight social and economic differences in rural and urban sites from medieval Italy.
We are pleased to invite you to submit a paper proposal to the session entitled " The 'long' 16 th century: archaeological evidence for innovations in the rural world (technology, agriculture and husbandry) " (session number: # 75), that we are organising for the 23rd Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), which will be held in Maastricht (Netherlands), August 30 th-September 2 nd 2017. We invite you to submit your title and abstract until the 15 th of March, following the instructions that can be found at http://www.eaa2017maastricht.nl/ SESSION ABSTRACT During the 16th century, Europe shifted from being 'medieval' to being 'modern' because some crucial changes occurred in all aspects of life. Abundant documentary evidence has allowed historians to investigate some of these changes, such as the exploration of other continents, the opening of oceanic trade routes, the remarkable development of politics, science, philosophy, international law and art, and the Protestant Reformation. However, changes also occurred in the rural world, and, arguably, affected the character of human societies even more profoundly than the political and religious upheavals. In the period between the Black Death (14th century) and the Agricultural Revolution (18th century), unquestionably the countryside of Europe was transformed in both its appearance and practices. This session will analyse changes that occurred in the 16th century, as this is the time following the end of the Middle Ages, but earlier than the Agricultural Revolution as traditionally defined. Can we see the roots of rural world transformations already in the 16th century, or was this a time still more closely connected to medieval practices? We aim to bring together researchers from a variety of disciplines (zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, landscape archaeology, material culture studies, etc.) to investigate the nature of agricultural innovations that occurred in the rural world during the 'long' 16th century. This may include improvements in agriculture and animal husbandry, the introduction of new plant and animal species, and technological changes in the countryside. Although the session will focus on the archaeological evidence, the contribution of historians is most welcome.