Veronica Aniceti

Veronica Aniceti

Supervisor: Dr Umberto Albarella

Email address: vaniceti1@sheffield.ac.uk

PhD Title

Animal husbandry in Sicily during the Islamic-Christian Transition, 8th–12th centuries

PhD Abstract

This project aims at answering a series of issues related to animal exploitation in Sicily in the transitional period between Muslim and Christian rules. These two political systems, backed up by substantially different cultural contexts, are likely to have impacted differently on husbandry strategies. In particular, the different perspectives and ambitions of the Muslim administration would have led to the introduction of new technologies; at the same time, dietary taboos and imported traditions could have been loosely or strictly imposed on the dominated population.

The impact of these technological and cultural innovations may have varied geographically and on different site-types. The persistence or demise of such practices during the Christian period would have depended upon the requirements and capability of the new administration and on the receptiveness and adaptability of the productive sector.

Zooarchaeology plays an important role in understanding the economic and social dynamics of past societies. Periods of transition between two different cultures, such as the one between Christian and Muslim rules in Sicily, are likely to benefit substantially from zooarcheological analyses, which provide essential information on the changing relationship between humans and animals. When these studies are integrated with other archaeological and historical sources, it becomes possible to assess the extent and nature of the impact of these different cultures on animal husbandry.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Master of Science in Osteoarchaeology at the University of Sheffield. 2014
Master degree in Archaeology and Science of Antiquity at the University of Siena (distinction). 2013
Bachelor degree in Archaeological Heritage Science at the University of Siena(distinction). 2010
Publications and Conferences

Publications and Conferences

Aniceti, V. Forthcoming. I resti animali. In Diana Umbronensis a Scoglietto. Santuario, territorio e cultura materiale (100 BC – AD 500), A. Sebastiani, E. Chirico, M. Colombini and M. Cygielman (eds). Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.
Aniceti, V. Forthcoming. I resti umani individuati nella cisterna a Scoglietto. Analisi preliminari. In Diana Umbronensis a Scoglietto. Santuario, territorio e cultura materiale (100 BC – AD 500), A. Sebastiani, E. Chirico, M. Colombini and M. Cygielman (eds). Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.
Bianchi, G., F. Grassi, V. Aniceti, V. Piscini and L. Russo. 2012. Rocca degli Alberti a Monterotondo Marittimo (GR): il ridotto fortificato e il sistema di immagazzinamento delle risorse cerearicole tra IX e X secolo. In VI Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Medievale (L’Aquila, 12-15 Settembre 2012), F. Redi and A. Forgione (eds), Firenze: All’Insegna del Giglio.
Aniceti, V. 2014. The exploitation of animal resources at the Roman site of Spolverino, Tuscany. 1st ICAZ Roman Working Group Meeting. Husbandry in the Western Roman Empire: a zooarchaeological perspective. Sheffield, 20th-22nd November 2014.
Aniceti, V. and V. Pescini. 2014. Archeobotanica e Archeozoologia per la ricostruzione della storia alimentare nel Medioevo: il caso di Rocca degli Alberti. Medioevo in Formazione, Città e Territorio, Vercelli 9-12 October 2014.
Awards

Awards

WRoCAH White Rose network studentship ‘Faith in Food and Food in Faith’. 2014.
100 hours OnCampus Interniship at the Zooarchaeology Laboratory, University of Sheffield: animal bones reference collection re-organisation and creation of a mollusc reference collection. 2014.
Award from the Banca Credito Cooperativo (BCC) of Florence for the results achieved during the Master degree in Archaeology and Science of Antiquity at the University of Siena, Italy. 2013