University of Cambridge
Faecal Sediments as Bio-Archives: The Fish Event Horizon in the Low Countries
Abstract
dc:description.abstractThis thesis addresses the ongoing uncertainties regarding change in fish exploitation in the Low Countries (present day Belgium and the Netherlands) during the medieval and Post-Medieval periods (AD 500 – 1900). In this thesis, I complete a systematic review of ichthyological remains and fish consumption proxies (carbon and nitrogen values isotope values and parasite eggs) for a comprehensive characterisation of change in fish exploitation and consumption in the Low Countries. The parasite review included data from 47 samples analysed within the context of this thesis for the cities of Aalst (n = 16), Antwerp (n = 3), Brugge (n = 2), Delft (n = 5), Dendermonde (n = 1), Leiden (n = 19), and Mechelen (n = 1) (AD 1000 – 1700). Archaeological fish remains are notoriously challenging to collect and identify, which can hinder ichthyological evaluations. In order to assess the potential of human faeces for specifying fish taxa compared to ichthyological macro-remains, I analysed sediment 13 samples (for the cities of Aalst [n = 3], Antwerp [n = 1], Brugge [n = 2], Dendermonde [n = 1], and Leiden [n = 8]) using a dual lipid and metagenomic approach. Ichthyological and isotopic review results support an increase in marine fish exploitation/ consumption and decrease in freshwater fish exploitation/ consumption starting around the second half of the 12th/ 13th century at both urban and elite sites. Diadromous fish exploitation remains consistent from the Early to the Post-Medieval period. Parasite data are insufficient to identify a culturally relevant diachronic trend, although results are consistent with freshwater fish having had low dietary significance during the Late and Post-Medieval periods. Lipid results supported the input of human faeces in 12 samples, based on FSAs and bile acids, and non-human faeces in one sample; faecal samples contained an expectational concentration of DNA which was effective in identifying/ specifying a number of ichthyological taxa and other foodstuffs, including three very rarely reported species: sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbricoides) and zander (Sander lucioperca). Overall, however, DNA consistently underperformed in comparison to sieved ichthyological/ zooarchaeological datasets, despite “gold- standard” preservation conditions. The results from this thesis highlight the occurrence of a widespread, multi-national European event between AD 1000 and AD 1200 based on combined effects of culture, environment, and climate, justifying the application of Fish Event Horizon (FEH) terminology in the Low Countries. Such work carries important ramifications for characterising the timing and intensity of North Sea fish populations’ decline while underscoring the variability in responses by different taxonomic groups/ species to changing environmental conditions. These results are also significant for clarifying the breadth of (rare) species relevant to cultural contexts. Such considerations may be incorporated to improve paleo-aquatic reconstructions and model ecosystem responses to current environmental shifts.
Degree
thesis:*- Name dc:type.qualificationname
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
- Doctoral
- Grantor dc:publisher.institution
- University of Cambridge
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2024
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Rabinow, Sophie
- Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Collins, Matthew
- Mitchell, Piers
Subjects
dc:subject × 9Rights
dc:rightsIdentifiers
dc:identifier.*- DOI dc:identifier.doi
- https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.116678
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/381531