The secrets of a medieval city : an osteological study of the animal bones excavated from the City Park in Kalmar, Sweden

During the excavations of the City Park in Kalmar, Kalmar municipality, Småland, Sweden, in 2006 a quantity of approximately 100 kg of animal bones was excavated from the medieval settlement and harbour structures. These animal bones have been analysed and the results of the analysis will be discussed in the following paper. The purpose of the study was to identify what species is found and which parts of the body is represented in order to figure out the use and consumption of animals in the medieval city. In the analysis several osteological methods- among these; age determination, sex determination and estimation of height have been used in order to compare the material from Kalmar to analysed osteological materials from other parts of Sweden. The result of the analysis showed the following species: cattle, sheep, goat, pig, horse, dog, cat, rat, hare, unspecified bird and unspecified fish. A pattern has been found in the location of different types of material indicating one building that was burnt down while storing several joints of meat, including for example spare ribs. In the area around the harbour several bones from phalanges and the cranial parts of cattle was identified, indicating an area of butchering or tannery activities