A novel sizing method for analysing amphibians from archaeological sites: a case study from the Medieval Manor site at Lower Putton Lane, Dorset, England.

Abstract

Amphibians from archaeological sites are used to assess palaeoenvironments but rarely investigated to answer archaeological questions other than consumption. They can, however, yield important information about site occupation, land use, and the environment. We developed a sizing method to understand how and why amphibians were deposited in pit F76 under the Medieval Manor of Lower Putton Lane, England, which allowed us to answer broader questions about the site. Along with size, and, by inference, age at death, we recorded taxonomy and taphonomy of the amphibians. We demonstrated this was a breeding population which suffered catastrophic mortality in late spring. We inferred F76 was a working or refuse pit which flooded to become an amphibian breeding site, but was rapidly infilled in late spring, perhaps the cause of death, sealing the amphibians. After a brief hiatus F76 was chosen to be the site for the first Manor house. The builders did not know it was prone to winter flooding when they chose this site, suggesting they were probably from outside the area, certainly unfamiliar with it. We show that suitable recovery and analysis of amphibian remains enables them to contribute fully to discussions about how people lived in the past.