Feeding the miners: zooarchaeological insights into animal husbandry and resource management at Rocca San Silvestro (13th-14th c. AD, southern Tuscany, Italy)

This article presents the results of zooarchaeological analyses of faunal remains recovered from the medieval mining site of Rocca San Silvestro (Campiglia Marittima, southern Tuscany, Italy), originally excavated between 1984 and 1993. The animal bones were analysed in the framework of a recent international research project ‘Pursuing Public Health in the Preindustrial World, 1100-1800′, which enabled the study of a selected sample from defined excavation areas. The sample, comprising 1,333 remains from areas 4100, 4200, and 4700, provides important insights into animal husbandry practices and food resource management during the 13th and 14th c. AD in central Italy. Data suggest a predominance of pigs, followed by sheep/goat and cattle, with most individuals slaughtered at juvenile and subadult stages. Evidence of butchery reflects coarse processing methods, and the distribution of anatomical elements suggests selective consumption and potential redistribution of meat portions to other areas of the site, or outside it. Comparisons with contemporary sites at regional (Tuscany) and international levels (France) enhance our understanding of animal husbandry strategies at Rocca San Silvestro, revealing both shared patterns and distinctive local practices. This research represents a preliminary framework for understanding how pre-industrial mining communities across Italy and Europe addressed their animal provisioning challenges.