Des crevettes dans le garum ? Découverte exceptionnelle de restes de crevettes (crustacés décapodes) dans les niveaux du port romain de Ratiatum (Rezé, Loire-Atlantique)

Abstract

Shrimp remains (Crustacea decapoda) have been discovered in programmed archaeological excavations in the Roman harbour area of Ratiatum (Rezé, Loire-Atlantique). The parts of carapaces from these small animals can only be detected after carefully sieving sediment with a 1.1 mm square mesh. The discovery of these shrimp fragments is exceptional at an archaeological site and their presence here is linked to a good preservation in a damp environment. The morphology of the rostrum (rigid extension of the head) helps us to determine Palaemon longirostris whilst the morphology of the telson (the part at the rear end of the body of arthropods) makes the sand shrimp Crangon crangon clearly identifiable. The first species is quite considerable, nevertheless the second are rarer. The ecology of the main species Palaemon longirostris could testify that they were caught in an estuary such as that of the Loire. The fact that pieces of shrimps are systematically associated with small fish used in preparing fish sauces suggests that these shrimps were probably used in this type of preparation too.

Keywords

• shrimps
• Crustacea decapoda
• Antiquity
• Rezé Saint-Lupien