Archaeozoological evidence of dietary habits of small castle inhabitants in the Mediaeval Slavonia

This lecture presents knowledge about the dietary habits of the inhabitants of medieval fortifications in the area of the Kingdom of Slavonia. Analyzed samples of animal bones originate from confident archaeological context from sites Veliki Zdenci-Crni Lug, Grubišno Polje- Šuma Obrovi, Sveta Ana- Gradina and Osijek Vojakovački-Mihalj. All of them are late medieval hill-forts or lowland small castles - fortified residences of the nobility of the medieval Križevci County (comitatis Crisiensis). These fortifications, protected by the ditches and earthen ramparts, are particularly densely widespread especially in the area of the medieval Križevci County, but only a few of them was surveyed using contemporary archaeological methods. Finds like kitchen-ware and cutlery, drinking vessels, jewelry, weapons, tools and other items give insight into everyday life in the castles and into the quality of life of the nobility of the medieval Slavonia. In the archaeological literature more attention is devoted to the analysis of above mentioned objects, especially the tableware that directly provides information about the status and the financial capability of the castle owners, while less attention is devoted to their dietary habits. The aim of this paper is to present a picture of the eating habits of the owner and the inhabitants of the castle, based on analysis of animal bones remains. Meat has always represented the main source of proteins, and it can be assumed that because of its good taste it was the first choice between the various foods that a nobleman could want to have on his table. Animal remains from the castle indirectly testify about the finances and the economy of the whole estate, respectively the surroundings from which the castle was supplied with food. In this paper nutrition habits of inhabitants of aforementioned small castles will be compared, and the obtained results will be compared with other castles and settlements where archaeozoological analyses were carried out and published.