New evidence for the establishment and management of the European fallow deer (Dama dama dama) in Roman Britain |
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Authors: | Naomi J. Sykes Karis H. Baker Ruth F. Carden Thomas F.G. Higham A. Rus Hoelzel Rhiannon E. Stevens |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 2RD, UK;2. School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK;3. National Museum of Ireland-Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, Ireland;4. Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, Dyson Perrins Building, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK;5. McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3ER, UK |
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Abstract: | The semi-domestic status of the European fallow deer (Dama dama dama) renders its ancient biogeography a reflection of human activity with the potential to provide important insights into the movement, trade patterns and ideology of past societies. Given this potential, fallow deer have received surprisingly little attention from scientists within the fields of archaeology, biology and zoology. Here we present new AMS radiocarbon dates, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data and genetic evidence (the first ancient DNA sequences for the species) resulting from the analysis of a set of remains recovered from the Roman settlement at Monkton on the Isle of Thanet, Kent, UK. By viewing our results against the very limited available comparative data, this paper provides new information for the establishment and management of fallow deer in Britain. We argue that much more could be achieved with even a slight increase in sample sizes and a plea is made for greater research into this culturally significant species. |
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Keywords: | Fallow deer Roman AMS dating Stable isotopes Genetics Osteometrics |
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