Human-Animal-Environmental Interactions at Late Medieval Religious Foundations in Ulster

该项目的目的是采用结合动物考古学和多同位素分析技术的多代理方法，对中世纪晚期阿尔斯特主要宗教建筑的人类-动物-环境相互作用提供更细致的理解。中世纪的爱尔兰教会在12世纪经历了一段重组时期，在全岛引入了教区结构，并在1142年引入了新的改革宗教秩序，如梅利丰修道院的西多会。1169年后，盎格鲁-诺曼冒险家来到爱尔兰东部和南部，一系列新秩序建立起来，以修道院为基础的建筑群成为整个岛上修道主义的主要形式，这一改革进程在19世纪的最后几十年得到了扩大。中世纪晚期爱尔兰的五个主要修道会将被纳入该项目，选定的地点将包括圣玛丽，丹麦岛，Co. Fermanagh（奥古斯丁）；教堂山，唐帕特里克，Co.唐（本笃会）；纽里修道院，唐（西多会）；主教门隐修会，Coleraine, Co. L'Derry（多米尼加）和masserene Friary， Co. Antrim（方济各会）。来自这些遗址的大量动物考古组合由社区部历史环境司管理，但许多从未被分析过，或者在20世纪50年代技术刚刚发展的时候进行过研究。由于这个原因，对人类-动物-环境相互作用的理解经常在考古叙述中被遗忘，但对于确保这些社区的生存和可持续性至关重要。每个场所的当地环境都提供了生存所需的资源，但也直接与种群及其动物面临的主要压力源有关。动物考古学分析将使在每个基地开发的动物的概况能够确定主要家畜群的组成，这些家畜群将与相关环境直接相关。对动物性别和年龄比例的分析将确定如何利用这些动物，以及畜牧业的重点是否在于肉类、牛奶和/或其他次要产品。动物古病理学的研究将为人类与动物的相互作用和潜在的环境压力提供进一步的信息。对动物群中锶、氧、硫、碳和氮同位素的研究将有助于调查牲畜的流动性，并评估在不同基础上使用的饲养方法。该项目将通过在这些备受瞩目的考古遗址中对人类-动物-环境相互作用的理解来丰富考古叙述。它还将为当前关于畜牧业对环境和气候的影响以及可持续农业做法的辩论提供参考。

OVERVIEWThe aim of the project is to apply a multi-proxy approach that combines zooarchaeological and multi-isotope analytical techniques, to provide a more nuanced understanding of the human-animal-environment interactions that enabled key religious houses to function in Late Medieval Ulster.The Church in Medieval Ireland underwent a period of reorganisation in the 12th century, with the introduction of a diocesan structure across the island and new reformed religious orders such as the Cistercians at Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth, in 1142. This reform process received amplification in the last decades of the century with the arrival of Anglo-Norman adventurers in the east and south of Ireland in the years after 1169 and a range of new orders became established with cloister-based complexes becoming the primary form of monasticism across the island. Five of the main monastic orders present in Late Medieval Ireland will be included in the project and selected sites will include St. Mary's, Devenish Island, Co. Fermanagh (Augustinian); Cathedral Hill, Downpatrick, Co. Down (Benedictine); Newry Abbey, Co. Down (Cistercian); Bishopsgate Priory, Coleraine, Co. L'Derry (Dominican) and Massereene Friary, Co. Antrim (Franciscan). Substantial zooarchaeological assemblages from these sites are curated within the Historic Environment Division, Department of Communities, but many have either never been analysed or were studied during the 1950s when techniques were only developing. Understanding of human-animal-environment interactions is often forgotten in archaeological narratives for this reason but yet would have been crucial for ensuring the survival and sustainability of these communities. The local environment of each of these establishments would have provided the resources necessary for survival but is also directly connected to the main stressors faced by a population and by extension their animals. Zooarchaeological analysis will enable the profile of animals exploited at each foundation to be determined in relation to composition of the main domestic herds which will have been directly related to the associated environment. Analysis of sex and age ratios will ascertain how the animals were being utilised and whether the focus of livestock farming practices was for meat, milk and/or additional secondary products. Investigation of animal palaeopathology will provide further information on human-animal interactions and potential environmental stressors. The study of Strontium, Oxygen, Sulphur, Carbon and Nitrogen isotopes from the faunal assemblages will enable an investigation of livestock mobility in addition to assessment of the husbandry methods used at the different foundations. The project will enrich archaeological narratives by bringing understanding of human-animal-environment interactions at these high-profile archaeological sites to the fore. It will also feed into current debates concerning the impact of livestock husbandry on the environment and climate in addition to sustainable farming practices.