Insects in Urban Waste Pits in Viking York: Another Kind of Seasonality

Abstract

A large number of samples of deposits with anoxic waterlogging from pits of Anglo-Scandinavian (mid 9th to mid 11th C) date at 16-22 Coppergate, York, have been analysed for their content of insect remains. In order to investigate the prospects of determining the duration of exposure of foul deposits, an attempt has been made to establish whether any components of the insect fauna can be regarded as indicators either of particular seasons of formation of the deposits or of a minimum period of exposure. Two approaches have been employed: (a) using published data concerning the period in which adult insects are active and (b) estimation of the time required for the development of the observed death assemblages. The first approach appears to be limited by available information concerning the modern adult activity period. The information obtained suggests that few relevant species have short activity periods and that active adults of many are present through much of the year. Consideration of the second approach has shown the need for modelling of community and death assemblage development, and some preliminary attempts are made towards this end.