Aspecte ale economiei animaliere la

comunitile culturii Gumelnia,

de Drago Moise, Valentin Radu, Adrian Blescu

Studii arheozoologice Creterea animalelor

Vntoarea Pescuitul
Culesul Bibliografie
Studii arheozoologice
Resturile faunistice (oase de animale, cochilii) descoperite n cursul
spturilor arheologice ntreprinse n aezrile gumelniene reprezint n marea
lor majoritate deeuri menajere (resturi de buctrie) ale comunitilor
omeneti ce au trit n aezrile respective. Studiul acestor resturi pe de o parte
ne ofer posibilitatea cunoaterii strategiilor alimentare, a economiei animaliere
a comunitilor omeneti, a evoluiei relaiei om-animal de-a lungul timpului, iar
pe de alt parte ne permite observarea rspndirii unor specii de animale,
extinderea sau restrngerea arealelor acestora, precum i modificrile anumitor
parametri corporali i ale taliei (observabile la nivelul scheletului) survenite de-a
lungul timpurilor istorice.

Ansamblu de vestigii
osteologice dintr-o
zona menajer
(Hrova tell)

Degajarea resturilor
osteologice
(Hrova tell)

Carapace de broasc Valve de scoici de ru

estoas de ap
ntr-un strat de
(Emys orbicularis)
cenu aparinnd
provenind din tell-ul unei zone de deeuri
de la Hrova
menajere

Creterea animalelor
Studiile arheozoologice ntreprinse pentru 18 aezri au artat c, n
marea majoritate a cazurilor, creterea animalelor constituia principala activitate
din cadrul economiei animaliere a comunitilor gumelniene. Acest fapt este
dovedit de predominana resturilor osoase aparinnd animalelor domestice. Au
fost identificate speciile: Bos taurus (vita domestic), Ovis aries (oaia), Capra
hircus (capra), Sus domesticus (porcul) i Canis familiaris (cinele).
n cazul bovinelor domestice, determinarea vrstei la care acestea au fost
sacrificate (pe baza dentiiei i sudrii oaselor) demonstreaz faptul c acestea
erau crescute mai mult n scopuri utilitare (pentru lapte, posibil pentru traciune)
dect ca furnizoare de carne, acest fapt fiind ilustrat de raportul ntre indivizii

subaduli (imaturi sexual) i cei aduli (maturi sexual), acetia din urm avnd o
reprezentare nsemnat.
Acelai lucru se constat i pentru ovine i caprine, aceste animale fiind
exploatate att pentru carne, ct mai ales pentru produsele lor secundare (lapte,
ln, pr).
Suinele domestice erau crescute n exclusivitate pentru carne. Vrstele de
sacrificare variaz n limite largi, nu se observ preponderena vreunei clase de
vrst. Raportul imaturi/maturi sexual variaz de la o aezare la alta. Probabil
suinele domestice erau sacrificate n funcie de necesitile alimentare de
moment. Aceste animale triau, se pare, ntr-o stare de semi-slbticie, lucru
ntlnit mai ales n cadrul aezrilor din regiunile cu biotopuri lacustre.
Cinele avea n principal funcii utilitare (paza locuinelor i a turmelor,
nsoitor la vntoare). Interesant este c n patru aezri (Borduani, Hrova,
Mriua i Vitneti) a fost pus n eviden consumul alimentar al acestui animal,
pe baza inciziilor de dezarticulare i descrnare prezente pe oase. Utilizarea
cinelui n consum nu pare a reflecta anumite perioade de criz, fiind mai
degrab vorba despre un obicei alimentar. Pe de alt parte cinele, ale crui
resturi osoase n mod surprinztor dein un procent destul de ridicat n cadrul
loturilor de la Hrova i Borduani, putea reprezenta o surs ieftin i sigur
de blan, carnea fiind i ea, ulterior, valorificat.
n cadrul animalelor domestice, bovinele au fost cel mai intens exploatate
n 13 aezri: Bucani, Carcaliu, Cscioarele, Drgneti, Gumelnia,
Licoteanca, Luncavia, Mriua, Suceveni, einoiu, Tangru, Vitneti i
Vldiceasca. Ovicaprinele sunt predominante n patru aezri: Aldeni, Hrova,
nsurei i Nvodari . Suinele domestice se situeaz pe primul loc doar ntro
singur aezare, cea de la Borduani.

Vntoarea
Dei cultivarea plantelor i creterea animalelor constituiau trsturi
comune tuturor populaiilor gumelniene, se pare totui c aceste dou activiti
nu ajungeau s acopere necesarul alimentaiei zilnice; ca urmare comunitile
omeneti din acele timpuri au continuat s apeleze i la alte resurse de hran,
oferite de mediul nconjurtor.
n acest sens, toate comunitile gumelniene practicau i vntoarea,
mai mult sau mai puin intens, n funcie i de resursele cinegetice ale mediului
nconjurtor. Vntoarea avea n principal un rol compensatoriu al alimentaiei
carnate, fiind practicat totodat i n scopul obinerii de blnuri, piei, pentru
strpirea prdtorilor etc.
n aezrile gumelniene au fost identificate urmtoarele specii de

mamifere slbatice: Equus caballus (cal slbatic), Equus (Asinus)

hydruntinus (mgar slbatic), Bos primigenius (bour), Cervus elaphus (cerb
comun), Alces alces (elan), Dama dama (cerb loptar), Capreolus
capreolus (cprior), Sus scrofa (mistre), Canis lupus (lup), Vulpes
vulpes (vulpe), Ursus arctos (urs),Felis leo (leu), Lynx lynx (rs), Felis
silvestris (pisic slbatic), Meles meles (bursuc), Lutra lutra (vidr), Martes
sp. (jder), Mustela putorius (dihor), Mustela nivalis (nevstuic), Lepus
europaeus (iepure), Castor fiber (castor).
Cel mai intens vnate erau copitatele mari: bourul, cerbul, mistreul,
calul, care furnizau o cantitate important de carne. Prezena oaselor
extremitilor membrelor aparinnd acestora denot faptul c animalele au fost
aduse ntregi n aezare, ceea ce presupune fie c acestea au fost vnate la o
distan relativ mic fa de aezare, fie c echipa de vntori era destul de
numeroas.
Carnivorele erau vnate mai ales pentru blnuri (carnea fiind i ea
valorificat), cele mari (ursul, lupul, leul) i n scopul reducerii aciunii lor
prdtoare asupra turmelor.
Vntoarea predomin n cadrul economiei animaliere n patru staiuni:
Vitneti, nsurei, Carcaliu i Cscioarele (n aceast din urm staiune n faza
B1 a culturii Gumelnia vntoarea capt un rol predominant).
Studiul resturilor mamiferelor slbatice ne ofer informaii preioase
privind paleomediul, peisajul actual dovedindu-se a fi mult modificat fa de
trecut. Astfel, prezena unor specii tipice de pdure n Cmpia Romn
dovedete existena unor importante masive forestiere aici, combinate cu zone
de silvostep i step.
Prezena unor specii termofile ca Asinus hydruntinus, Dama dama i Felis
leo dovedete c n perioada eneolitic clima era mult mai cald dect cea
actual.
Psrile erau i ele vnate dovad stnd numeroasele specii determinate
n aezrile de la Borduani, Cscioarele, Hrova i Vitneti. Acestea ofer
informaii importante asupra mediului din jurul aezrilor respective, psrile
migratoare putnd indica sezonul n care au fost vnate. Psrile erau vnate
att pentru carne ct, probabil, i pentru pene, utilizate n diverse scopuri. Ca un
element care vine s completeze imaginea dietei populaiilor gumelniene
amintim i descoperirea, ntr-o zon de deeuri menajere din tell-ul de la
Hrova, a numeroase fragmente de coji de ou, provenind de la psri de talie
mare.

Pescuitul
Pescuitul a jucat un rol important n economia comunitilor gumelniene,
mai ales a celor din apropierea Dunrii i a cursurilor de ap mari, care furnizau
cantiti importante de pete.
Miile de resturi osoase de pete scoase la iveal de-a lungul campaniilor
de spturi arheologice ne indic importana pescuitului i a consumului de pete
n cadrul economiilor vechilor comuniti.
Studiile arheoihtiologice ntreprinse ncepnd cu anul 1994 relev c
vechii locuitori cunoteau foarte bine att mediului geografic nvecinat
(multitudinea de lacuri i bli dar i enalul rurilor i al fluviului) ct i biologia
principalelor specii de peti pescuite. Ei, probabil, profitau de toate condiiile
favorabile capturrii unor mari cantiti de pete din timpul unui an. Primvara n
perioada de reproducere cnd majoritatea speciilor sunt gregare sau la
retragerea apelor dup inundarea luncilor, cnd indivizii de talie mare se retrag
ctre ru sau spre Dunre, sau n perioadele de secet prelungit cnd secau
blile mai puin adnci concentrnd petii rmai.
Deocamdat nu se pot reconstitui metodele i tehnicile de pescuit, dar
putem afirma innd cont de varietatea dimensional a petilor, c pescuitul se
realiza de ctre grupuri specializate, ce dispuneau att de unelte de pescuit
specializate (ne referim aici la harpoane, plase de pescuit, pripoane), dar i cu
metode i tehnici de pescuit rudimentare ce sunt utilizate i azi n cazuri
asemntoare (coul, plase din fibre textile, gardul).
S-au identificat 22 specii de peti, specii ce se ntlnesc att n ruri,
Dunre ct i n lacurile i zonele inundabile din luncile lor ca: Silurus
glanis (somn), Stizostedion
luciopera (alu), Esox
lucius (tiuc), Cyprinus
carpio (crap), Abramis
brama (pltic), Perca
fluviatilis (biban), Alburnus
alburnus (oblete), Aspius
aspius (avat), Barbus
barbus (mrean), Carassius
carassius (caracud), Leuciscus
idus (vduvi), Leuciscus
cephalus (clean), Tinca
tinca (lin), Scardinius
erythrophthalmus (roioar), Rutilus
rutilus (babuc), Pelecus
cultratus (sabi), Acerina cernua (ghibor), Alosa pontica (scrumbie) precum i
sturioni ca Huso huso (morun), Acipenser guldentstadi (nisetru). Acipenser
ruthenus (ceg) i Acipenser stellatus (pstrug). Dintre speciile marine s-a
identificat doar Sparus aurata (dorada).
n urma reconstituirii dimensiunilor (lungime, greutate) ce se ncadreaz
ntrun spectru larg, putem spune c, nu exista un pescuit specializat pentru
anumite specii sau dimensiuni.
Totui datorit metodei fine de prelevare a materialului, pe tell-ul de la
Borduani (jud. Ialomia), s-a putut evidenia ntr-o zon de deeuri menajere,
resturi provenind n mare parte de la craniu, rezultatul probabil al unui proces de
preparare n scopul conservrii (uscare, afumare, poate chiar srare). innd

cont de izolarea geografic a aezrii i deci posibilitatea redus de a practica

agricultura, utilizarea metodelor de conservare a petelui (surs sigur i
abundent de hran) ni se pare ndreptit. Carnea de pete conservat,
asigura o parte din hran pe timpul iernii i putea fi folosit i n schimburile
comerciale la schimb pentru obinerea altor produse.
Exploatarea eficient a petilor precum i a tuturor resurselor oferite de
mediu acvatic pare s fie caracteristica dominant a populaiilor gumelniene.
Ca o resurs alternativ de hran, dar fr o importan prea mare, dup
cum o dovedete puintatea resturilor faunistice descoperite, amintim amfibienii
(broatele), de la care se consumau probabil, ca i n actual, pulpele picioarelor
dinapoi, i chelonienii (broatele estoase), de la care se consuma carnea,
carapacea fiind folosit ulterior n scopuri diverse.

Culesul
Culesul. Termenul, folosit ndeobte pentru a desemna recoltarea
produselor vegetale, a fost mprumutat i de ctre arheozoologi, fiind folosit n
mod generic, referindu-se n principal la activitatea de colectare a melcilor i
scoicilor, pentru consum.
Resturi de molute au fost recuperate din multe aezri gumelniene.
Cochiliile de melci au o frecven mai sczut n cadrul materialului
faunistic Dintre melcii teretri, probabil numai melcul de livad (Helix pomatia)
era de interes alimentar (fiind consumat i-n zilele noastre), celelalte specii
ajungnd probabil accidental n aezare. Dintre cei acvatici se pare c a fost
consumat specia Viviparus acerosus. Resturile de scoici au o frecven mai
ridicat n toate siturile analizate, acestea fiind o surs alternativ de hran
intens exploatat de unele comuniti, n sezonul cald, dat fiind i situarea
aezrilor pe lng cursurile de ap. De interes alimentar erau scoicile din
familia Unionidae (scoicile de ru genul Unio i de lac genul Anodonta).
Acestea, n Dunre i-n aria inundabil pot atinge densiti mari, culesul lor
nenecesitnd mult energie i timp. La Borduani i Hrova s-au descoperit
impresionante aglomerri de scoici, acestea erau, se pare, o important resurs
complementar de hran n sezonul cald. n final, se cuvine s amintim i
descoperirea, n urma setrii sedimentului, la Hrova, de resturi de raci, ceea ce
dovedete c i acetia constituiau, n sezonul cald, o surs alternativ de
protein animal.

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(dp. de Teleorman), comunicare susinut la Colocviul International Viaa pe
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A. Blescu, Consideraii preliminare asupra faunei eneolitice, (n cadrul:
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dArchomtrie, 1996, p. 181-186.
S. Haimovici, G. Dardan, Studiul resturilor de faun provenite din
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arheologice, vol. IX, 1970, p. 127-111.
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1998, p. 283287.
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spects of animal economy with Gumelnia Culture Communities,

by Drago Moise, Valentin Radu, Adrian Blescu

Archaeozoological Studies Animal Breeding

Hunting Fishing
Gathering References
Archaeozoological Studies
Fauna remains (animal bones, shells) uncovered during the archaeological
excavations conducted in Gumelnia settlements are mostly domestic waste
("kitchen" remains) of human communities that lived in those settlements. The
study of these remains provides, on the one hand, the opportunity to find out food
strategies, the animal economy of human communities, how the man-animal
relationship evolved in time, and on the other, allows us to notice the spread of
animal species, the extension or constriction of their areas, as well as the changes
in certain body and height parameters (noticeable in skeletons) occurred over
historical times.

Bone vestiges pile in a

Removing bone
domestic area
remains (Hrova tell)
(Hrova tell)

Water tortoise shell

(Emys orbicularis)
originating in
Hrova tell

River shell valves in an

ash layer belonging to
a domestic waste area

Animal Breeding
The archaeozoological studies conducted for 18 settlements proved that, in
most cases, animal breeding was the main activity of animal economy of
Gumelnia communities. That is proven by the prevalence of bone remains
belonging to domestic animals. The following species were identified: Bos
Taurus (the domestic cattle), Ovis aries (the sheep), Capra hircus (the goat), Sus
domesticus (the pig) and Canis familiaris (the dog).
In the case of domestic bovines, the assessment of the age at which they
were sacrificed (starting from dentition and bone knitting) proves that they were
bred for utilitarian uses (milk, possibly traction) rather than food providers, which
is illustrated in the ratio between under age adults (sexually immature) and adult
ones (sexually mature), the latter having a considerable representation.
The same can be noticed in the case of sheep and goats, as these animals

were exploited both for meat, and especially for their secondary products (milk,
wool, hair).
Pigs were bred exclusively for meat. The ages for sacrifice ranged within
broad limits, no age group prevails. The sexually immature/mature ratio varies
from one settlement to another. Pigs were probably sacrificed depending on their
current food necessities. These animals seemingly lived in a half-wild state, which
could be encountered especially in settlements of regions with lacustrine biotops.
The dog has mainly utilitarian functions (guarding dwellings and flocks,
company in hunting). It is interesting that in four settlements (Borduani,
Hrova, Mariua and Vitneti) the fact that htis animal was used as food was
proven on basis of the incisions from disjointing and fleshing off bones. The eating
of dogs does not seem to reflect certain crisis periods, but it must have been an
eating custom. On the other hand, dogs, whose bone remains surprisingly hold a
rather high percentage within the Hrova and Borduani lots, could represent a
"cheap" sure source of fur, as meat was later put to good use.
As for domestic animals, bovines were exploited mostly in 13 settlements:
Bucani, Carcaliu, Cscioarele, Drgneti, Gumelnia, Licoteanca, Luncavia,
Mariua, Suceveni, einoiu, Tangru, Vitaneti and Vladiceasca. Sheep and goats
prevail in four settlements: Aldeni, Hrova, nsuraei and Nvodri. Pigs are the
first only in one settlement, that of Borduani.
Hunting
Although plant cultivation and animal breeding used to be common traits of
all Gumelnia populations, nevertheless it seems that these two activities did not
suffice to meet the demand of daily food; as a result, human comunities from
those times continued to use also other sources of food, provided by the
environment.
Consequently, all Gumelnia communities practised also hunting, more or
less intensely, depending on cynegetic resources of the environment. Hunting had
mainly the role of making up for meat, as it was practised also for getting fur,
skin, and for putting away predators, etc.
In Gumelnia settlements the following wild mammal species were
identified: Equus caballus (the wild horse), Equus (Asinus hydruntinus (the wild
ass), Bos primigenius (the aurochs), Cervus elaphus (the common stag), Alces
alces (the elk), Dama dama (the buck), Capreolus capreolus (the deer), Sus
scrofa (wild boar), Canis lupus (the wolf), Vulpes vulpes (the fox), Ursus
arctos (the bear), Felis leo (the lion), Lynx lynx (the lynx), Felis silvestris (the wild
cat), Meles meles (the badger), Lutra lutra (the otter), Martes sp. (the
marten), Mustela putorius (the polecat), Mustela nivalis (the common
marten), Lepus europaeus (the hare), Castor fiber (the beaver).
Mainly large hoofed animals were hunted: the aurochs, the stag, the wild
boar, and the horse, that provided a large quantity of meat. The occurrence of
limb bones belonging to them proves that the animals were brought whole in the

settlement, which presupposes either that they were hunted at a relatively short
distance from the settlement, or that the team of hunters was rather numerous.
Carnivorous animals were hunted especially for furs (the meat was also
eaten), and the large ones also for diminishing their predatory actions against
flocks.
Hunting prevails within animal economy in four sites: Vitneti, nsurei,
Carcaliu and Cscioarele (in the latter site during phase B1 of Gumelnia culture
hunting has a prevailing role).
The study of wild mammal remains provides precious data on the
paleoenvironment, as the present landscape proves to be very much changed as
compared to the past. Thus, the occurrence of typical forest species in the
Romanian Plain proves the existence of important forest massifs here, combined
with forest steppe and steppe areas.
The occurrence of thermophile species such as Asinus hydruntinus, Dama
dama and felis leo proves that during the Eneolithic period the climate was much
warmer than the present one.
Also birds were hunted, as proven by the many species determined in the
settlements of Borduani, Cscioarele, Hrova and Vitneti. These provide
important data on the environment around the respective settlements, as
migratory birds might point to the season during which they were hunted. The
birds were hunted both for their meat, and, probably, for their feathers, used for
various reasons. As an element completing the image of the Gumelnia
populations eating habits, we mention also the discovery, in a domestic waste area
of the Hrova tell, of many egg shell fragments, coming from large-sized birds.
Fishing
Fishing played an important role in the Gumelnia communities economy,
especially those close to the Danube and the long watercourses, that provided
large quantities of fish.
The thousands of fish bone remains uncovered over the archaeological
excavations campaigns point to the importance of fishing and fish consumption
within the economies of old communities.
The archaeichtyological studies conducted starting from 1994 have
revealed that the old inhabitants knew very well both the neighbouring
geographical environment (the multitude of lakes and ponds, and the track of
rivers) and the biology of the main species of fished fish. They probably took
advantage of the conditions favourable for capturing large quantities of fish during
a years time. In the spring during the breeding period when most species are
gregarious or when waters withdraw after flooding the meadows, when large-sized
individuals withdraw from the river or towards the Danube, or during long
draughty periods when shallow ponds grew dry concentrating the rest of the fish.

Twenty-two fish species were identified, which can be found in rivers, the
Danube and in the lakes and flooding areas in their meadiws, such as: Silurus
glanis (the sheat fish), Stizostedion luciopera (the pike perch), Esox lucius (the
pike), Cyprinus
carpio (the
carp), Abramis
brama
(the
bream), Perca
fluviatilis (the perch), Alburnus alburnus (the belak), Aspius aspius (the rapacious
carp), Barbus barbus (the barbel), Carassius carassius (the crucian), Leuciscus
idus (the orfe), Leuciscus cephalus (the dace), Tinca tinca (the tench), Scardinius
erythrophthalmus (the red), Rutilus rutilus (the roach), Pelcus cultratus , Acerina
cernua, Alosa pontica (the herring), as well as sturgeons such as Huso
huso(beluga), Acipenser
guldentstadi (the
common
sturgeon), Acipenser
ruthenus (the sterlet) and Acipenser stellatus (the sevruga). Among sea species
only Sparus aurata (dorada) was identified.
Following the reconstruction of the sizes (length, weight) belonging to a
wide range, we may say that there was no specialized fishing for certain species or
sizes.
Nevertheless, due to the fine method of sampling the material, on the tell
at Bordusani (Ialomita county), we could uncover a domestic waste area, remains
mostly from the skull, probably the result of a preparation process in view of the
conservation (drying, smoking, maybe even salting). Taking into account the
geographical isolation of the settlement and, therefore, the slight possibility of
practising agriculture, the use of fish conservation methods (a sure abundant
source of food) seems justified. The conserved fish meat provided a part of the
food during the winter and can be used also in trade exchanges to get other
products.
The efficient exploitation of fish as well as of all resources provided by the
water environment seems to be the prevailing characteristic of Gumelnia
populations.
As an alternative food resource, with no great importance, as proven by the
scarcity of the fauna remains uncovered, we mention frogs, of which hind legs
must have been eaten, as nowadays, and tortoises, of which meat was eaten,
while the shell was later used for various purposes.

Gathering
Gathering. The term, used especially for collecting vegetal products, was
borrowed also by archaeozoologists, being used in a general sense, referring
mainly to the activity of collecting snails and shells for eating them.
The mollusc remains were recovered from many Gumelnia settlements.
The snail shells occur rarely within the fauna material. Of earth snails,
probably only the orchard snail (Helix pomatia) was used as food (still for
consumption nowadays), as the other species must have reached the settlement
by accident. Of water snails the species Viviparus acerosus was used as food. The
shell remains occur more frequently in all the analysed sites, as an alternative
food source intensely exploited by some communities, in the summer, given also
the location of the settlements by the watercourses. For food were the shells of
the Unionidae family (river shells the Unio genus and the lake one Anodonta

genus). These, in the Danube and in the flooding area, can reach high densities,
as their collecting requires a lot of energy and time. At Borduani and Hrova
impressive agglomerations of shells, as these seemingly were an important
complementary food source in the hot season. Finally, we should mention also the
discovery, following the setting of a sediment, at Hrova, of crab remains, which
proves that also these were, in the hot season, an alternative source of animal
protein.
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