Roman Republican Subsistence Strategies: The Case of Compartment 2 at Castelo Velho de Safara, Portugal

ABSTRACT This study examines the zooarchaeological remains from Castelo Velho de Safara, southern Portugal, to explore subsistence strategies and economic practices during the Roman Republican occupation. Located on a naturally defensive platform, the site reveals a rich stratigraphic sequence spanning from the Chalcolithic to the early Roman Empire. The analysis of faunal remains recovered from Compartment 2 focuses on taxonomic identification, anatomical representation, age‐at‐death profiles, and bone surface modifications to understand the dietary habits and resource management strategies of its inhabitants. Results indicate a mixed subsistence strategy combining domestic species with significant contributions from wild animals, like red deer and rabbits. Butchery marks, fracture patterns, and burning evidence demonstrate systematic meat processing practices, while the presence of worked astragali and horn artifacts suggests cultural and functional activities beyond subsistence. These finds emphasize the role of hunting and animal husbandry in the site's economy. This study contributes to our understanding of human–environment interactions, subsistence strategies, and the cultural dynamics of militarized communities in the western Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Republican period.