Urban Consumption of Thrushes in the Early Roman City of Pollentia, Mallorca (Spain)

Abstract

In the Roman city of Pollentia (Mallorca, Western Mediterranean), an exceptional zooarchaeological assemblage was recovered from a cesspit dated between the first century BC and the first century ad. The structure, situated in a commercial area adjacent to the forum, was connected to a food shop (taberna) via an underground drainage system used for waste disposal. The faunal remains from the cesspit include mammals, fish, reptiles, and birds, with song thrushes (Turdus cf. philomelos) constituting the most abundant avian species. The unique depositional context and zooarchaeological indicators, such as skeletal part representation, provide valuable insights into the preparation and consumption of these small birds. This evidence suggests that thrushes were commonly sold and consumed in Roman urban spaces, challenging the prevailing notion based on written sources that thrushes were exclusively a luxury food item for elite banquets. The study offers new perspectives on the role of street food and everyday culinary practices in the Roman Mediterranean.