Lutra 53(2)_Zeiler & Kompanje_2010

A killer whale (Orcinus orca) in the castle: first find of the species in a Dutch archaeological context

Bones and other non-skeletal remains of animals, such as antlers, shells, fish scales and remains of insects, are frequently found in archaeological sites (Bakels & Zeiler 2005). By studying these remains we can form an idea of the natural environment in the past and the use that people made of animals and animal products. The preservation of organic remains – both zoological and botanical – depends on the nature of the material and on the soil type: organic material decays rapidly in sandy soils above ground water level. Hence, most of the information from Dutch archaeozoological and botanical research originates from the lower lying parts of the Netherlands (including brook valleys from the Pleistocene areas), and other wet sites such as wells and cesspits in towns and villages. In this article we describe the find of two vertebrae of a whale during excavations at Brederode Castle (Noord-Holland)....