From cattle to carp: Animal management at the Late Bronze/Early Iron Age site of Male Livade – Glogonj (Southern Banat, Serbia)

During protective excavations along the route of the Main Gas Pipeline in 2019, faunal remains were recovered from the site of Male Livade in Glogonj, Southern Banat. The material derives mainly from cultural layers, and to a lesser extent, from several features of uncertain function, dated to the Late Bronze/Early Iron Age. A total of 1,376 specimens were analyzed, with mammals overwhelmingly dominating the assemblage (97.7%), while bird, fish, and mollusk remains occur in smaller numbers. Due to extensive fragmentation, 444 specimens were identified to genus or species level. Domestic animals of major economic importance – cattle, sheep/goats, and pigs – constitute the majority of the assemblage, with cattle remains being the most frequent. Age-at-death profiles indicate a predominance of adult cattle and sheep/goats, whereas pigs include a wider range of age categories, most commonly slaughtered between one and three years. Wild species are represented by red deer, roe deer, wild boar, hare, and fox, with hare and red deer being the most common. Bird remains are dominated by domestic chicken, while fish and shells are represented sporadically. The assemblage largely represents food refuse, offering valuable insights into diet and animal exploitation in the Late Bronze/Early Iron Age of South Banat.