medieval fisheries of Galicia (Northwestern Iberia): A preliminary archaeozoological overview

The origin and development of the Iberian Medieval fisheries is a poorly documented phenomenon both from the standpoint of historical (documentary) and material (archaeological) evidence. Such dearth of knowledge can be explained in terms of proximal (i.e., a deficient retrieval of fish remains) and ultimate causes. Among the latter, the Muslim invasion, that lasted ca. 800 years of the “medieval millennium” in the Iberian Peninsula, needs to be taken into account as it probably delayed the development of fishing fleets within the Christian kingdoms for a substantial period of time. Be it as it may, the lack of knowledge does not allow one to explore a range of critical issues of Spanish and Portuguese history, such as the role played by the ever-expanding fishing fleets of Portugal and Castilla in the process of maritime discovery and colonization that these two kingdoms fostered by the end of the Middle Ages. In this paper, the results from a comparative analysis of selected fish assemblages from primary (i.e. coastal) deposits of the northern Iberian shores are presented. The aim is to check whether changes can be documented both at the level of (1) the range of species occurring in sites from the late Iron Age (Castreña culture, IV-I BC) to the Late Middle Ages (XV AD), and (2) the skeletal spectra of certain species that could reveal a differential processing of taxa meant for local consumption and those that appear in inland sites.

Caza de vicuñas en un refugio de las Tierras Altas de la Puna meridional de Chile (26° s)

Se presentan los resultados del análisis zooarqueológico del sitio Pedernales-1, emplazado a 3.379 m.s.n.m. en el salar de Pedernales (Región de Atacama, Chile), datado en 2.964-3.206 años cal. AP para el componente más temprano y en 539-634 años cal. AP para el más tardío. El registro faunístico se compone principalmente por restos de vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) complementado con escasos restos de Lama sp., roedores, aves y carnívoros. De acuer- do con una serie de expectativas para sitios de altura, el registro es propio de bases residenciales ocupadas estivalmente, aunque también, se asocian a un tipo de paisaje configurado para la caza de vicuñas complejizando los modelos de caza, procesamiento, consumo y descarte de presas en base a una serie de escenarios discutidos en este y otros trabajos.

dogs of Roman Vindolanda, Part IV: Large sighthounds and guard and utility dogs

In this report we investigate the origin and nature of morphological diversity in domestic dogs utilizing a database of over 1,000 recent and ancient canid skulls and skeletons. Integrated skull–skeleton analysis reveals eight functional groups, giving a clear picture of the extent and kind of morphological diversity produced by dog breeders in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia beginning in the Neolithic and intensifying about 2,100 years ago during the late Iron Age and Roman Era. We report nearly complete associated remains of a large sighthound from Vindolanda, a Roman-era fort–village site in northern England. With this we compare skulls of other sighthounds, and contrast them with remains of guard dogs from Vindolanda and other archaeological sites. The shape of jaw rami, relative size of teeth and state of dental wear, and the size and proportions of postcranial elements are the best differentiators of large dog morphotypes, while most skull parameters are less useful. The central section of the basicranium in ancient sighthounds (parameter Px which measures juvenilization) is little different from wolves, whereas in some modern breeds it is noticeably longer. By contrast, many ancient guard dogs have Px shorter than in wolves and show moderate juvenilization. Gracile sighthounds appear in the archaeological record in the Neolithic, while the earliest robust guard dogs appear later, in Iron Age sites. Building on results of previous work (Bennett & Timm, 2018) we continue to find intriguing similarities between west Asian dog

Reptiles de los niveles Epipaleolítico, Mesolítico y Neolítico de Cova Fosca (Ares del Maestrat, Castellón, España)

Cuatro taxones de reptiles han sido determinados en los niveles del Epipaleolítico, del Mesolítico y del Neolítico Antiguo y Medio del yacimiento de Cova Fosca: cf. Mauremys leprosa, Timon lepidus, Zamenis scalaris y Vipera latastei. Al menos una parte de los restos es- tudiados muestra trazas de digestión y evocan la acción de un depredador de tipo mamífero en el que el hombre no puede ser excluido. El conjunto de reptiles permite inferir la existencia de un clima mediterráneo y de un paisaje con vegetación aclarada y un punto de agua.

Humans and animals in the Postclassic Cuchumatanes: the archaeological fauna from Chiantla Viejo (Huehuetenango, Guatemala)

Recent excavations at the highland site of Chiantla Viejo (Huehuetenango De- partment, Guatemala) were conducted to refine the site stratigraphy and understand population movements during the late Postclassic and early Contact era (AD 1250-1550). Excavations re- covered animal remains from these transitional contexts. This analysis represents one of the first zooarchaeological studies of a faunal assemblage in the Guatemalan highlands at the end of the pre-Hispanic period and into Spanish contact. The results highlight the changes and also the continuities experienced by the residents of this region during the early Colonial period: the persistence of long-distance exchange networks, the continuation of wild game hunting, and the early introduction of Eurasian domesticates.

Animal consumption and social change: the vertebrates from Ditch 7 in the context of a diachronic approach to the faunal remains at Perdigões enclosure (3400-2000 BC)

The results from the study of the faunal assemblage from ditch 7 of the Perdigões enclosure (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal) are presented. Dated to the Chalcolithic and the transition to the early Bronze Age it comprises a total of 3380 remains. Results show the rele- vance of swine, caprines, cervids, bovines and equids and their diachronic oscillation. Indicators of butchering and consumption were recorded, comprising cutmarks, anthropogenic breakage, thermo-alterations and tooth marks, the latter mainly of a carnivore origin. The spectra obtained were compared within the scope of the Perdigões chronology, from the late Middle Neolithic to the transition to the early Bronze Age (3400-2000 BC), thus representing a first approach to the diachronic behaviour of vertebrate consumption at the site. Domesticated species are prevalent but changes in the domesticated/wild ratio are evident with a wild input, mainly from red deer, of significance in the late Middle Neolithic and in the transition to the early Bronze Age, whereas the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods have a growth in the domesticated component.

faunal assemblage from the manufacturing district at Spolverino: from the Roman Imperial period to Late Antiquity

This paper presents a zooarchaeological analysis from the site of Spolverino (southern Tuscany, Italy). Archaeological excavations have uncovered a complex stratigraphy dated from the Roman Imperial period to Late Antiquity (late 1st- early 6th centuries AD). The industrial function of the site in Imperial times is partially reflected in the nature of the faunal assemblage. In Late Antiquity, Spolverino lost its original manufacturing functions, as many of the workshops were abandoned; our evidence, however, suggests that some livestock was kept, probably managed by a restricted group of people still living in that area. Some hunting was practiced throughout the occupation but it increased in the later periods. Remarkable, in Late Antiquity, is the occurrence of the fallow deer, an introduced species, rare in Roman contexts.

Neolitización y modo de vida. El aprovechamiento de moluscos en los primeros grupos neolíticos del este de la Península Ibérica

A partir de la información proporcionada por varios asentamientos excavados, emplazados en la misma línea de costa –Caserna de Sant Pau, Costamar, Barranquet, Cova de les Cendres, Tossal de les Basses–, a escasa distancia de la misma –Minas de Can Tintorer (minas 68 y 70), Cova Bolumini– o bastante alejados –La Draga, Cova del Toll, Cova Fosca, Cova de l’Or, Cova de Sant Martí, Benàmer, Cova dels Calderons, Abric de la Falguera–, se valora la importancia de la recolección, consumo y circulación de exoesqueletos de moluscos por parte de los primeros grupos neolíticos implantados en el Este de la península ibérica. El análisis de las evidencias arqueomalacológicas permite concluir que las prácticas fueron habituales de forma exclusiva entre las poblaciones neolíticas costeras, no así para aquellas alejadas a pocos kilómetros, que, en algunos casos, sí incluyeron en su dieta el consumo de moluscos terrestres. Aprovechar de forma sostenible los recursos naturales existentes en el entorno de los lugares de hábitat, configura uno de los rasgos de la racionalidad de la economía del modo de vida campesino, lo que nos conduce a la consideración de que aquellos grupos captarían los moluscos a través de prácticas de laboreo superficial en las inmediaciones de los asentamientos, empleando escasos medios humanos e instrumentales. Al mismo tiempo, las poblaciones costeras también efectuarían labores de recolección de caparazones en los cordones arenosos del litoral con el fin de ser intercambiados y/o transformados en adornos, ampliándose su demanda a medida que las comunidades neolíticas se fueron consolidando.

Economy and subsistence in the Early Neolithic site of Carrascal (Oeiras, Portugal)

Early Neolithic settlements in southwestern Iberia are rare and, so far, only a few faunal assemblages, mostly from Portuguese Estremadura, have been analysed. The zooarchae- ological studies suggest that animal husbandry was introduced to the area by Neolithic marine settlers originating from the Mediterranean and that domesticated animal herding, particularly sheep, was of outmost importance to the human communities. Located in lower Estremadura, Carrascal is an open-air site, featuring several dwelling structures, a diversified set of artefacts, and a well-established chronology for its Early Neolithic occupation (cal BC). It also yielded a faunal assemblage of considerable size and variability, which includes vertebrates (mammals and fishes) and invertebrates (molluscs). The present study, which focuses on the vertebrate materials, shows that during Early Neolithic the community that inhabited Carrascal practiced a diversified set of subsistence activities in which animal husbandry was prevalent. There is an abundance of caprines (mainly sheep) and swine, followed by cattle. The age at death data suggests a mixed animal exploitation system, with swine being mostly killed at a younger age (presumably for meat), while cattle was slaughtered after reaching adulthood (perhaps for milk production) and caprines show a mixed pattern. This study also reinforces the idea that, for the Neolithic communities living in lower Estremadura, hunting was a less prevailing activity (au- rochs and, perhaps, wild boar were identified, but red deer is absent in Carrascal) when compared with the human groups that lived in the central Estremadura Limestone Massif, a situation that may be due to different ecosystems and human demography.

Restos óseos ingeridos por puma (Puma concolor) en el Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas (San Luis, Argentina)

La tafonomía actualista constituye una poderosa herramienta para evaluar el rol de los carnívoros como formadores activos del registro fósil. Caracterizar la firma tafonómica de diferentes depredadores es clave para interpretar los patrones observados en los conjuntos faunísticos. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de una muestra ósea obtenida de 10 heces de puma procedentes del Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas (San Luis, Argentina). El ob- jetivo general es caracterizar estos restos para generar una herramienta útil en la interpretación del registro fósil. El procesamiento de las fecas permitió recuperar 2913 especímenes óseos. Los resultados indicaron que el largo promedio de los especímenes es de 8,49 mm, en tanto que el ancho promedio es de 4,53 mm. Se determinó un NTAXA de nueve, con predominio de indi- viduos de la Subfamilia Dolichotinae. El 6,5% de la muestra presentaba marcas de dientes y el 91% evidencias de corrosión gástrica. En conclusión, este trabajo contribuye a la construcción de marcos de referencia útiles para la interpretación de los conjuntos fósiles. Dado que el puma es un carnívoro generalista y oportunista, al momento de utilizar estas herramientas deben tenerse en cuenta los ensambles faunísticos pasados y presentes del área de estudio.