Folia archeologica 48.
István Vörös: Az aquincumi castrum mithraeumának állatcsontleletei
ANIMAL REMAINS FROM AQUINCUM 63 In front of the Mithra Petrogenitus altar there was 1 pi g bone; in front of the foundation altar, 1 pi g and 5 har e bones; to the east of this, 8 pi g bone remains were found. In the district of the altar, 9 pieces of cattl e bones, 15 pi g bones and one domestic he n bone; in front of the podium, 40 pi g bones and 84 domestic he n bones were found. 96, 8 % (333 pieces) of the domestic he n remains were found in the sanctuary and only 3,2 % (11 pieces) were in the central aisle. 74.5 % of all hen remains in the sanctuary were in the sacrificial pit and 24,5 % in the altar district. The anatomical distribution of the domestic hen remains is presented on Table 2. There are roughly even amount of front (wing) 32,8 % - 113 pieces and hind (limb) bones 30,3 - 104 pieces among the finds. The quantity of trunk bones is about one quarterof the total amount (25,9 % - 89 pieces), lesser quantity of headpart 8,8 % - 30 pieces and onlv 2,3 % of phalangi (8 pieces) were found. Skull of domestic hen was found only in the sacrificial pit. 76.6 % (245 pieces) o f pi g remains were found in the sanctuary, 10 % (32 pieces) in the central aisle and 13,4 % (43 pieces in the parvis. 77,5 % of pig bone remains in the sanctuary were inside the sacrificial pit and 22,5 % in the altar district. The anatomical distribution of pig bones are presented on Table 3. Most of the bones originated from the trunk region (42,3 % - 135 pieces), one fifth from the front limb (19,3 % - 62 pieces), less from the head region (16 % - 51 pieces) and the hind limb (11,8% - 38 pieces) and from the terminal bones (phalangi: 10,6 % - 34 pieces). The separate incisors (I sup. - inf.) were probably falling out from the praemaxillae and the mandibles; there were no isolated canine teeth (C) found in the sanctuary. 45,8 % (55 pieces) of cattl e remains were found in the parvis, 31,7% (38 pieces) in the central aisle and only 22,5 % (27 pieces) were found inside the sanctuary. The anatomical distribution of cattle remains are presented on Table 4. Most of the bones originated from the head region (31,7 % - 38 pieces), followed by the trunk region (26,7 % - 32 pieces), the hind limb (22,4 % - 2 / pieces) and the front limb (9,2 % - 11 pieces). The frequency of phalangi and sesamoidea is 10 % (12 pieces). There were 19 pieces of horn core with frontal bone or cut off from this. The number of so-called meaty bones is strikingly low. From the sanctuary, only horn cores, ribs, a dorsal vertebra fragment and phalangi came forth. The only fragment belonging to a mt. diaph. was polished, obviously the fragment of a bone tool. Remains o f shee p occurred over the whole area of the Mithraic temple, goat was only found outside the sanctuary. The anatomical division of small ruminants is presented on Table 5. Apart from the head region, mainly the remains of meaty bones from the fore and hind limbs were found. In the sanctuary, only head and finger bones of sheep were found. With the exception of 2 tibia diaph., goat was only represented by a split-off horn core, mandible and two fragments of mc. Remains of domestic goos e were found only in the sanctuary pit, comprising apart from vertebrae bones of 2 wings and 3 legs. Remains of har e in the sanctuary comprised vertebrae and pelvis, those found in the central aisle were fragments of sacrum and mt. Aurochs was only found in the central aisle - two cut-off horn core; from red dee r , fragment of femur and astragalus, from roe dee r, the fragment of a polished mt. diaph., part of a bone tool was found.
