Algarve Archaeological Association talk on Tuesday 10th January 2017 - 'Bon appetit! Eating in Roman and Medieval Islamic times in Southern Portugal: comparing zooarchaeology and literary sources'.
On Tuesday 10th January, the Algarve Archaeological Association (AAA) will be presenting two lectures, in English, by Professor Maria Joao Valente. The first lecture will be at 2.30pm at the Museu do Trajo in Sao Bras, the second lecture will be at 5.45pm at the Convento de Sao Jose in Lagoa.
Professor Valente has been a Professor of Archaeology at the University of the Algarve since 1999. She specialises in zooarchaeology and is mostly interested in the usage of animal resources in past human diets. She has published many articles on the subject, from the Palaeolithic to the Medieval period. Currently she is organising the first Iberian Zooarchaeology Meeting (EZ12017) which is to be held at the University of the Algarve in April 2017.
Zooarchaeology focuses on the study of animal remains in archaeological contexts. But how does the obtained data compare with literary sources? In this talk we aim to show that day-to-day human behaviour, as portrayed by the archaeological records, did not always follow the official doctrine displayed in the written documents.
We will look into the fringes of the Mediterranean diet and examine what the Roman and Islamic people living in Southern Portugal were herding, hunting and eating. Which were their favourite meats and seafoods? What were the food taboos and were these always obeyed?
Did urban civilians eat the same as soldiers living in military enclosures? How did the rich people's diet compare with the diet of the less fortunate ones? Finally, how closely did recipe books represent real life meals?
Let's take a walk into the past and see what our ancestors considered 'bon appetit!'
Lunch in Sao Bras can be arranged in advance – please call Maxine on 917 267 948.
For more information contact algarvearchass@gmail.com, visit arquealgarve.weebly.com or Facebook 'Algarve Archaeological Association'.
By Jane Robertson - Press Officer, Algarve Archaeological Assoc
Jane Robertson
Press Officer
Algarve Archaeological Assoc
