43-44/I – Archeology - Muzeul Naţional de Istorie a Transilvaniei

8
Mihai Wittenberger
The herein presented data reveal significant differences between
Transylvania and Moldavia, related to the representativeness of certain animal
species. A comparison with the Wietenberg culture can help understand the
mutations occurring within the Noua culture.
Wietenberg culture, Derşida 12
Bos taurus
%
Ovis aries/
Capra
hircus
%
Sus scrofa
domesticus
%
Canis
familiaris
%
Equus
caballus
%
Wild
animals
%
25.7% 28.3 25.1 5.6 3.7 11.3
It can be noted that there is a close connection between the Wietenberg and
Noua cultures, related to the representativeness (in percentages) of big cattle and
the ovicaprids. Furthermore, it seems that porcine have had a wider representativeness
in the Wietenberg culture.
Skipping the strictly quantitative data related to the presence of the various
species in Noua settlements, an interesting element, also revealed by statistics, is
the animals’ sacrification age. In the case of cattle and horses, most of the
individuals are adult: 56.3% mature horses; 87% mature cattle; 97% adult and subadult
porcine; 70% juvenile ovicaprids. As for ovicaprids, the juvenile sacrification
ratio is almost the same nowadays. The birth rate and family characteristics make
possible the recovery of all the needed individuals in spring, the reproductive
maturity period being of about 8 months. On the basis of data from the Zoltan
settlement, G. El Sussi 13 argues that 34% of the cattle were exploited for
productive purposes: traction, milk and meat (66%). Quite probably, big breeding
cattle were only sacrificed when they reached full maturity or in special cases
(accidents, illness, lack of fodder). The existence of a special interest in cattle has
also been proven by the presence of castrated animals 14 , used exclusively for
traction and meat.
2. Hunting and fishing
As proven by archaeological findings, other frequent occupations were
hunting and fishing. The presence of wild boar, bear, rabbit, stag and bison bones
are eloquent in this respect, even though they do not exceed 10% of the total
12 Bindea, unpublished, kind information.
13 El Sussi 2002, 159.
14 El Sussi 2002, 166.