Study of the malacofauna found in the main hall of the Islamic palace of Silves Castle (Algarve, Portugal)

Silva, Solange; Callapez, Pedro M.; Gomes, Rosa Varela

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/26526

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Authors

Silva, Solange

Callapez, Pedro M.

Gomes, Rosa Varela

Abstract(s)

During an archaeological intervention carried out in the main palace hall of Silves Castle, in 2006, abundant malacological fauna was exhumed, contributing to the reconstitution of diets and cultural practices of the medieval populations that lived here. It was possible to count a minimum number of 5547 individuals, from 20 taxa of bivalve and gastropod molluscs, and cirriped crustaceans. This sample consists mainly of clams (Ruditapes decussatus) corresponding to 86.9% of the collection. The relative abundance and palaeoecological analysis suggest local subsistence practices and eating habits, related to the exploitation and consumption of edible molluscs collected from estuarine areas of the Arade river. These focused mainly on the capture of clams (R. decussatus), common cockles (C. edule), mussels (M. galloprovincialis), and fl at oysters (O. edulis).