Sarah Green

From Conquest to Ploughing: Roman Animal Husbandry, a view from the provinces

Supervisor: Dr. Jaco Weinstock

Abstract:

My research focuses on using faunal remains to investigate the impact of the Roman Empire on animal husbandry in the provinces, both in space and time. The Roman conquest and expansion of the Empire involved the social and political control of people. Bearing this in mind, my research will consider to what degree the style of animal husbandry in the Roman
provinces was determined by local culture as well as influenced by Rome.

In this presentation I will outline some of the methods I propose to use in an attempt to chart the husbandry evidence of ‘Romanization’ and consider how the Romans influenced the methods used by indigenous populations. Often faunal remains are examined in isolation and I feel that a more integrated approach is called for – utilizing the animal bones
alongside textual and iconographic evidence, as well as a consideration of the cultural influences in the provinces.

email: slg305@soton.ac.uk