Fishing at the Upper Moesian frontier: remains of freshwater and migratory fish from Viminacium (Upper Moesia, Serbia)

The site of Viminacium, a legionary fortress and the capital of the Roman province Upper Moesia/Moesia Prima, is situated on the right bank of Mlava river near its confluence with the Danube. Its location and the vicinity of water suggest that fishing must have contributed (at least to some degree) to the diet of its citizens and legionaries. However, fish remains are fairly scarce in the Viminacium faunal assemblage, represented only by a few dozen of bones (in comparison with several thousands of mammal bones). This is primarily a consequence of hand - collecting of animal bones. Nonetheless, although much fewer in number, fish remains offer insights into fishing and fish supply practices in this Roman city and consequently in the Upper Moesian frontier in general, as the Viminacium faunal assemblage is the only one analysed in this part of the limes. The largest assemblage comes from the area of the city itself – the Roman amphitheatre and its surroundings, but also from settlements located outside of the city and fortress. Fish remains include those of catfish, cyprinids, pike, as well as migratory sturgeons (including its largest representative – the beluga sturgeon). In order to understand the significance of fishing and the role of fish in the diet at the Upper Moesian frontier, we will look into contextual data, taxonomic composition, taphonomic data and biometry of fish remains. We will further discuss possible supply routes of highly valued fish in Roman times - large beluga sturgeon at the frontier and inlands. We will also take into account the archaeological findings of fishing equipment from Viminacium, particularly fishing hooks and
weights used for fishing nets. The diachronic changes in fishing practices (from the 2nd until the 4th century AD) will also be discussed, namely the differences in the spectrum of species and fishing equipment with respect to certain periods.