The civitas Batavorum was a settlement on the north-western frontier of the Roman Empire, and it is now the site of numerous archaeological excavations. This book offers the most up-to-date look yet at what has been discovered, using the newest archaeological techniques, about the town and its economy, its military importance, and the religious and domestic buildings it held. It will be essential reading for anyone studying the economy of the Roman provincial countryside or the details of food supply for the Roman army and town.

specialises in zooarchaeology and lectures at the Archaeological Centre of the VU University Amsterdam.

FOREWORD1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Framework, scope and research questions1.2 The Dutch River Area in the Roman period1.3 Economic networks and food provisioning1.4 Farming in a market economy2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: BACKGROUND2.1 Data and methods2.2 Classification of sites2.3 Site background3 ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND3.1 Species proportions3.2 Age and sex3.3 Skeletal elements3.4 Butchery3.5 Biometrical analysis4 METHODS4.1 Taphonomy4.2 Species proportions4.3 Mortality profiles4.4 Skeletal elements4.5 Butchery4.6 Biometrical analysis4.7 Archaeobotany5 rRURAL SETTLEMENTS: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND CONSUMPTION5.1 Farming in the Late Iron Age5.2 Taphonomy5.3 Species proportions5.4 Exploitation of livestock5.5 Skeletal element distribution5.6 Butchery5.7 Biometrical analysis5.8 Arable farming5.9 Discussion6 CONSUMERS: URBAN, MILITARY AND TEMPLE SITES6.1 Taphonomy6.2 Military sites6.3 Urban/military sites6.4 Urban sites6.5 Temples6.6 Discussion7 INTERACTION BETWEEN PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS7.1 Species proportions7.2 Exploitation of livestock7.3 Skeletal elements: leather and joints of meat7.4 Butchery7.5 Biometrics7.6 Archaeobotany7.7 Discussion8 FINAL THOUGHTS8.1 Food supply8.2 Changes in farming8.3 Scale of production8.4 What did the Romans do for us? Exploitation versus opportunityBIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX