The development of husbandry strategies at Pisa between the 5th century BC and the 5th century AD

The analysis of the animal remains from the 1985-1988 excavations in the eastern area of Piazza Duomo, near the Leaning Tower (saggio D) of Pisa is presented. The context was a central locus within the Etruscan-Roman city, located on the northern fringe of the urban area and lapped northwards by the nowadays extinct river Auser. The excavation highlighted a complex stratigraphy characterized by intense building activities that took place uninterruptedly from the mid-6th c. BC to the 6th c. AD. Domesticates (cattle, pig and caprines) constitute the bulk of the faunal samples, with red deer and roe deer being the most frequent wild species. The long chronological sequence allowed us to reveal changes in the animal exploitation strategies through time.