Widening the market. Strontium isotope analysis on cattle teeth from Owslebury (Hampshire, UK) highlights changes in livestock supply between the Iron Age and the Roman period C. Minniti a, b, 1 , S. Valenzuela-Lamas a, c, * ,1 , J. Evans d , U. Albarella a a University of Sheffield, Department of Archaeology, Northgate House, West Street, S1 4ET Sheffield, UK b University of Salento (Lecce-Italy), via D. Birago, 64 - 73100 Lecce, Italy c University of Barcelona, GRACPE, C/Montalegre 6-8, 08001 Barcelona, UK d NERC, Geosciences Laboratory, Keyworth, UK article info Article history: Received 8 July 2013 Received in revised form 2 October 2013 Accepted 6 October 2013 Keywords: Bos taurus Mobility Iron Age Roman period Strontium Isotopes abstract 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotopic analysis was performed on 95 cattle teeth from the Iron Age and Roman rural site of Owslebury (Hampshire). This constitutes one of largest strontium (Sr) isotopic projects in Roman archaeology and the first ever dealing with Iron Age cattle. The Sr isotopic signal of Middle Iron Age cattle is consistent with a local Sr signature, while in the Late Iron Age and, even more so, in both Roman phases cattle were introduced to the site from a greater variety of geographic areas. Although it is not possible to track down the exact origin of these introduced cattle, some must have travelled substantial distances (70 km and more). The widening of the market illustrated by our study is consistent with artefactual evidence from the site, indicating an increase in trade in the Late Iron Age, which is further emphasised in the Roman period. Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The impact of the Roman conquest on the society and economy of Britain has been the subject of intense debate for years (Freeman, 1993; Hill, 2001; Hingley, 1996, 1997; James, 2001, 2003; Mattingly, 2006; Millett, 1990a,b; Woolf, 1997). Epigraphic, material culture and landscape evidence indicate the occurrence of major changes in the social and economic life of native communities after the Roman military occupation of 43 AD (Mattingly, 2004; Millett, 1990a; Webster, 1997, 2001). The effects of the Roman conquest spread unevenly, with the upper classes adopting the new cultural style first, while low status rural populations lagged behind (Mattingly, 2006; Millett, 1990a). Geographically, more apparent and rapid change is attested in the East and South of Britain than in the West and North of the island (Albarella et al., 2008; Maltby, 1981; Noddle, 1984). Meat consumption and production are strongly correlated with the social and economic infrastructure of a population (Harris, 1998), which means that archaeological faunal assemblages can be useful indicators of both economy and society. Previous zooarchaeological studies have shown that substantial changes in animal husbandry occurred after the Roman conquest in Britain, though it would be wrong to consider Iron Age societies as static (Albarella, 2007; Albarella et al., 2008; Dobney, 2001; Gidney, 1999; Grant, 1989, 2002; Hamshaw-Thomas, 2000; Hesse, 2011; King, 1999, 2001; Maltby, 1981, 1984). Cattle played a major role in Romano-British economies and societies, replacing the sheep- dominated pattern that typified the Iron Age (5th C BC e 1st half of 1st C AD) (Hamshaw-Thomas, 2000; King, 1978, 1984, 1999, 2001). There was also an increase in the size of the livestock after the Roman invasion, especially cattle (Albarella et al., 2008). These trends were, however, not universal, and variation can be observed between sites, areas and periods (Albarella, 2007; Albarella et al., 2008, and references therein). One possible explanation for these changes in husbandry is the occurrence of greater mobility of goods, people and animals in Roman times, partly as a consequence of increased urbanization but also as related to the greater interconnection between communities * Corresponding author. University of Sheffield, Department of Archaeology, Northgate House, West Street, S1 4ET Sheffield, UK. Tel.: þ44 (0) 114 22 22 951; fax: þ44 (0) 114 22 25109. E-mail address: svalenzuela@ub.edu (S. Valenzuela-Lamas). 1 These two authors have contributed equally to the paper. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Archaeological Science journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jas 0305-4403/$ e see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.10.008 Journal of Archaeological Science 42 (2014) 305e314