Abstract
This contribution presents the summary results of an analysis of animal bones found at the archaeological site in Pata-Diely. Part of the settlement and nearly complete Early Bronze Age cemetery has been revealed in here during the rescue excavation undertaken in 1997-1999 by the Institute of Archaeology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Cheben 1999; 2012). While the anthropological remains were analysed shortly after the excavation (Miklíková 2000; 2001; Masnicová/Miklíková/Beňuš 2010), analysis of archaeofauna has been undertaken only recently (Bielichová 2016). Altogether, animal bones or teeth have been registered in the five settlement pits and 50 human graves. From the settlement, 281 specimens with weight of 931.4 g have been identified. It represents nine individuals of cattle (Bos sp.), sheep/ goat (Ovis/Capra), pig (Sus sp.), and calcareous shells of river mollusc (Unionidae) and terrestrial snail
(Cepaea sp.). A nearly complete skeleton of the foetal/neonatal cattle had been deposited in the pit 4. The animal bones have been found in 20% of human graves. The limited species and skeletal assortment, low fragmentation ratio, rarely registered butchery marks and absence of carnivore gnawing clearly support the idea of ritual origin (meat offerings). Altogether 362 bones/teeth with weight of 2210 g is registered, which represent 65 individuals at minimum. Species assortment include domestic cattle (Bos taurus L.), sheep (Ovis aries L.) and pig (Sus domesticus L.). According to MNI quantification method, sheep/goat had been the most frequently slaughtered animal (49.2%, of which 15.4% belonged to sheep). Cattle was presented in 32.3% and pig in 12.3%. Sex of animals has been determined as male only in two sheep/ goats and one pig individual. According to age, in slaughtered animals prevail immature individuals
(foetus-subadultus) which form 62.2% of total MNI. Adults occurred rarely (3.8%). As for the presented skeletal elements, 20 graves included a part of a single or several animal skeletons. In 26 graves there is only a single bone registered. In grave 59 larger part of young cattle (foetus/neonatus) skeleton has been deposited. In cattle most frequently occurred are ribs (19 graves), in sheep/goats radius (12 graves) and in pigs humerus and radius (5 graves). The meat portions came most often from the right side of the animals' body, but cases of left or both sides are recorded too. The butchery marks have been identified clearly only in six specimens. They bear short multiple cut marks made most probably by the sharp small implement (knife?). Burning or heating of meat (modification include orange-brownish coloration) is possibly present in a single sheep/goat individual from the grave 4.