A Multidisciplinary Approach to Human-Environmental Interactions at the Roman-Byzantine Ibida Fortress (Dobrogea, South-Eastern Romania)

Situated in the northern part of Dobrogea which belonged to Scythia Minor province, Ibida was the largest fortification in this region during Roman-Byzantine times, between the 4th and 6th centuries. This study investigates the usefulness of multidisciplinary analysis on the territory of Ibida fortress by integrating faunal data and phytolith records in relation to soil characteristics to understand past human-environmental interactions. One of the four soil profiles excavated within the fortress territory was sampled for phytolith analysis indicated the domination of grasses. The habitation phase corresponding to the Roman-Byzantine period was identified at 1.65 m depth on the Slava Rusa floodplain. This was the richest level in artefacts and elongate dendritic phytoliths, also suggesting an important accumulation of grass spikelets in the cultural layer. This could be explained either by the presence of cereals in the dwelling level or by the presence of non-cereal grasses used for animal fodder. The faunal remains were collected from various archaeological contexts (i.e. intramuros, wall and extramuros). The identification of numerous cattle and sheep/goat remains and the soil characteristics more likely suggest a pastoral use of the land from fortress proximity, where the cultivation of cereals seems to play a less important role.