Faunal Remains from the Bronze Age Settlement at Punta di Zambrone (Calabria, Italy). Orea|Punta di Zambrone I Oriental and European Archaeology Volume 17|

Excavations at the Bronze Age site of Punta di Zambrone yielded faunal remains from two habitational phases of the settlement, comprising two small samples from the Early Bronze Age 2 (EBA 2, NISP=114) and the Recent Bronze Age 2 (RBA 2, NISP=137) layers of Area B and a large assemblage from massive ashy filling layers of Area C (RBA 2, NISP=3439). Additionally, a very small sample (NISP=63) came from earlier horizons of Area C, possibly representing the early Recent or even Middle Bronze Age. All three small samples show very similar patterns of species composition, characterised by the distinct predominance of bovine remains and balanced ratios of pigs and ovicaprines. The large RBA 2 sample from Area C differs strongly from the other assemblages, mainly in terms of livestock representation which shows balanced ratios of all main domestic species and a remarkably high percentage of canine bones which, additionally, show frequent traces of butchering. These features resemble closely patterns of husbandry from other Calabrian sites, in particular MBA Broglio di Trebisacce, however, the deposition of faunal remains, comprising also meaningful objects like bucrania or eagle bones, in a series of ashy layers might also indicate ritually motivated forms of consumption that may not necessarily reflect the regular livestock economy of the settlement