Interaction and exchange in food production in the Nijmegen Frontier Area during the Early Roman Period
Introduction The subject of this study focuses on the bone material found while excavating the Pre-Flavian settlement of Oppidum Batavorum,
Interaction and exchange in food production in the Nijmegen Frontier Area during the Early Roman Period
Introduction The subject of this study focuses on the bone material found while excavating the Pre-Flavian settlement of Oppidum Batavorum, the predecessor of the civitas capital Ulpia Noviomagus that developed in Nijmegen following the Batavian Revolt in 69/70 A.D. For the greatest part of the twentieth century, the Nijmegen region has been the object of intensive study by scientists from several archaeological research institutions (e.g. Bogaers 1979: 1823; Bloemers 1983, 1989a, 1989b; v. Enckevort and Thijssen 2000, idem 2001; v. Enckevort et al. 2000; Lauwerier 1988; Willems 1990: 3134; Willems et al. 1982: 34).
The main research questions archaeozoology deals with for the Roman Period is the impact of the incorporation of the region in the Roman Empire, and changes caused by the process of Romanisation concerning food supply, dietary habits, stock breeding and trade circuits, on regional as well as interregional scales.
Focusing on Oppidum Batavorum, the nature and function of the settlement is still rather vague. The present consensus for the settlement is that of a Roman founded civil centre for the newly created Civitas Batavorum: the layout, infrastructure, buildings, and pottery are not of native tradition (Bloemers 1990). Analysis of the bone material found in Oppidum Batavorum has also indicated that a (Gallo) Roman population, already more Romanised with regard to dietary habits and animal husbandry probably inhabited the settlement (Lauwerier 1988: 21 26, 51). Being one of the earliest Roman settlements in the Nijmegen area, Oppidum Batavorum was most likely one of the driving forces responsible for the process of urbanisation that occurred with the creation of the Civitas Batavorum. However, indications exist that already from the Augustan phase onwards, the animal husbandry syste