Bones and bowls : a preliminary interpretation of the faunal remains from the Punic levels in Area B, at the temple of Tas-Silg, Malta

Abstract

The University of Malta has been excavating a section of the Phoenician/ Punic sanctuary dedicated to Astarte at Tas-Silg (Malta) since 1996. The excavations are still going on, but a significant amount of faunal remains has already been retrieved, enabling preliminary analysis. These remains were recovered from well-documented levels and contexts, and are almost invariably in direct association with inscribed pottery and other artefacts indicative of ritual behaviour. This paper seeks to give a preliminary interpretation ofthe mammal bone assemblage from only one ofthe three excavated areas (Area B). These results are ofconside rable importance, particularly in view ofthe fact that there are very few documented assemblages coming from Phoenician and Punic temples in the central and western Mediterranean. It is hoped that the full assemblage will help us to start understanding how this Levantine people adapted its religion and rituals as it migrated westwards, and how this adaptation incorporated the fauna then existing around the new settlements. The Phoenicians themselves have left us in writing their system ofofferings. The Marseilles tariff, listingfo rmulae ofofferings meant to regulate the sacrificial rituals at the temple of Baal Saphon at Carthage are written proof of what the western Phoenicians used to do. The faunal assemblage from Tas -Silg complements this textual evidence with zooarchaeological material for the first time.