@article{pia 513, author = {Weronika Tomczyk}, title = {Camels on the Northeastern Frontier of the Roman Empire}, volume = {26}, year = {2016}, url = {https://student-journals.ucl.ac.uk/pia/article/id/513/}, issue = {1}, doi = {10.5334/pia-485}, abstract = {<p>Ample iconographic, written, and osteological evidence for the occurrence of both dromedary (<em>Camelus dromedarius</em>) and Bactrian camels (<em>Camelus bactrianus</em>) is known from many Roman provinces. In contrast to the western provinces, osteological material from the northeastern frontier of the Empire has not yet been discussed collectively. There is a lack of information in the literature concerning which species of camel was widely spread, for what purposes they were used, and whether the camel, as an animal introduced artificially by humans, was treated in a unique way. Camel bones have been found at Ajdovščina – Casta (Slovenia), Hrusica – Ad Pirum (Slovenia), Viminacium (Serbia), Vranj (Serbia), Novae (Bulgaria) and Tanais (Russia). The earliest (1st century AD) and the largest assemblages of bones derive from the easternmost sites of Tanais and Novae. Identification of species was possible at 4 out of the 6 sites. In all assemblages, the majority of the bones belonged to Bactrian camels. It is noteworthy that the dromedary species occurred only in the west of the study region; this indicates a gradual increase in the importance of Bactrian camels in the next eastern provinces. This is supported by the work of other researchers (Pigiére and Henrotay 2012). None of the bones in this study were isolated or intentionally buried. The incomplete dataset collected from these different sites did not confirm whether camels were bred there. It can be generally assumed that camels were used mainly as pack animals, probably in the army, and that they were rarely consumed.</p>}, month = {8}, pages = {Art. 2}, keywords = {zooarchaeology,Roman Empire,camels}, issn = {2041-9015}, publisher={University College London (UCL)}, journal = {Papers from the Institute of Archaeology} }