An officina dedicated to the treatment, manufacture and sale of bone objects in Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Badajoz)

Abstract

During archaeological excavations carried out in the xx Course of Archaeology of the Consortium of Merida several rooms of the north wing of the Casa del Mitreo were uncovered. One of those rooms, excavated years ago, corresponded to a taberna with an exit to the street that bordered this domus on its north side.. The archaeological work we have carried out has allowed us to identify the complete plan of a handcrafted installation that we associate with the manufacture and sale of bone objects. In this work, in addition to presenting the architectural evidence, the remains recovered in both recent and ancient excavations are analyzed. In addition, we have also made an archaeofaunistic study of the found bone objects, which helps to understand the modus operandi of this craftspeople but also to outline data linked to meat culinary practices in Roman times. Given that, until now, no peninsular installations of these characteristics were known. We believe it can be considered a fisrt example in this Roman province.

Keywords

• lusitania
• arquitectura doméstica romana
• taberna
• trabajo del hueso
• arqueofauna