Hi Umberto,
you are correct - there is ostrich from Late Roman/ Byzantine
contexts at Leptiminus (in v. small quantity - and with signs of
butchering) see:
Burke, A. (2001) "Patterns of animal exploitation at Leptiminus: faunal
remains from the East Baths and from the cemetery (site 10)". Journal of
Roman Archaeology Suppl. 41:442-456.
Ostrich bone bearing traces of butchery has also been recovered in
Vandal-Byzantine contexts at Carthage (Tunisia) and is documented in
Schwartz' report:
Schwartz, J. (1994) "The (primarily) mammalian fauna." Chapter 18 In H.R.
Hurst (ed) Excavations at Carthage: The British Mission. Volume II: The
Circular Harbour, North Side, the Site and Finds Other Than Pottery.
And information on range of wild ostrich in North Africa, presumably
because it has also been identified inLybian sites, can be found in:
Barker, G. (1996) Farming the desert: the UNESCO Libyan valleys
archaeological survey. Volume 1: Synthesis. Tripoli; London.
(if I remember correctly)
Happy hunting!
AB
Ariane Burke, Assoc. Prof.
Dept. of Anthropology,
U. of Manitoba, Winnipeg,
MB, Canada, R3T 5V5
Tel. (204) 474-6654 Fax. (204) 474-7600
If the nightingale
will not sing -
wait.
(Anon.Japanese poem)
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