Wild Mammals from the Middle Ages in Romania

Abstract

This paper reviews the wild mammals of medieval Romania based on data from 48 archaeozoological samples, corresponding to the early (VI-Xth centuries AD), middle (XIXIIIth centuries AD) and late (XIV-XVIth centuries AD) medieval periods. The assemblages were grouped according to the geographical and historical regionalisation of the Romanian territory (i.e., Moldova, Dobrogea, Muntenia, Banat, and Transylvania). The data reveal the generally low contribution of wild mammals, despite spatial and temporal variation. The distribution of species such as red deer and brown bear decreased with time. Species currently extinct in Romania such as the aurochs, the bison and the beaver still appear in the medieval samples. The coincidence of the archaeozoological data with those from the documentary sources is remarked.