This paper reviews the evidence for consumption and use of birds at Danish Viking
Age sites. The presence and diversity of wild and domestic bird species were studied
on the basis of the avian material retrieved from sites representing a wide range
of different habitats covering a period from the Late Germanic Iron Age to early medieval
times (ca 5th–12th centuries ad). A large diversity of at least 20 avian families with more than 60 taxa in addition
to domestic fowl was documented. Although variation in species diversity and abundance
in the assemblages were influenced by recovery methods, some genuine differences emerged
regarding site type as well as topographical and geographic variation. Marked differences
among avian species within certain bird families were revealed; herons (Ardeidae),
birds of prey (Accipitridae), cranes (Gruidae), tetraonids (Tetraonidae) and waders
(Scolopacidae) occurred more commonly at certain categories of sites such as high‐status
manorial and early urban sites. The usage of eagle feathers was evidenced by cut marks
on eagle wing bones and falconry was documented at a few high‐status sites.
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© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (klick hier)
Nordvolk zu Fuße des Lyfiaberges - Fiktive Darstellung der Wikingerzeit (793 n. Chr. - 1066 n. Chr.)
