A combined approach to reconstructing livestock management in Iron Age north-eastern Iberia: estimating the season of death and palaeodiet using cementochronology and dental micro- and mesowear analyses

Two major settlements were established in the Empordà region (north-eastern Iberian Peninsula) in the Iron Age (6th-2nd centuries BC), 15 km from each other: the Greek colony of Empúries and the Iberian city of Ullastret. This coexistence of two different ethnic entities in the same region – and the same environment – presents an opportunity to shed light on the variability of livestock practices in these settlements, as well as their relationship with the environment. For this purpose, in addition to traditional zooarchaeological approaches, we reconstructed the animal palaeodiet and seasonality of death using three different proxies: dental meso- and microwear analyses, and cementum analysis. The results of the study, conducted on caprine and bovine teeth from both sites, support the hypothesis proposed in previous works, namely that the environment was exploited differently depending on livestock species. Caprinae (sheep and goats) were fed in marginal areas and less suitable areas for agriculture while, in contrast, cattle grazed on rich grassland and/or in wetland areas. The combination of cementochronology and dental microwear suggests a lower consumption of grasses in summer for Caprinae and cattle. Seasonality results show that Caprinae were mainly slaughtered during spring and summer.En la región del Empordà (noreste de la Península Ibérica) se establecieron dos importantes asentamientos, situados a 15 km el uno del otro, en la Edad del Hierro (s. VI-II a.C): la colonia griega de Empúries y la ciudad ibérica de Ullastret. La coexistencia de dos pastuentidades étnicas diferentes en la misma región –y en un mismo entorno– hace que nos preguntemos por la variabilidadde las prácticas ganaderas en estos asentamientos, así como su relación con el entorno. Para ello, además del análisiszooarqueológico tradicional, hemos reconstruido la paleodieta de los animales y la estacionalidad de muerte. Para ello, sehan combinado tres proxies: el análisis del meso- y microdesgaste dental, y la cementocronología. Los análisis realizadosen dientes de caprinos y bovinos de los yacimientos de Empúries y Ullastret (s. VI-IV a.C.) apoyan la hipótesis propuestaen trabajos anteriores sobre el uso diferente del medio según las especies: los caprinos (ovejas y cabras) se alimentaronen áreas marginales y menos aptas para la agricultura. Por el contrario, el ganado vacuno se alimentó en pastos y en zonashúmedas. La combinación entre la cementocronología y el microdesgaste sugiere un consumo menor de herbáceas en losmeses de verano. Y en cuanto a la estacionalidad, los resultados han mostrado que los caprinos fueron principalmentesacrificados entre los meses de primavera y verano

Structure, evolutionary context and chronological data of the Monforte de Moyuela Roman dam (Ebro Basin, NE of Spain)

The Monforte de Moyuela dam, also known as Ermita de la Virgen del Pilar dam, is a Roman reservoir built on a tributary of the Aguasvivas River (Ebro basin, Spain). A multidisciplinary study has been carried out to investigate this kind of Roman water infrastructure. It is the fifth‐highest dam (16.8 m) in the Iberian Peninsula and the seventh in the Roman Empire. The initial dam was built ca. 100 B.C.–10 A.D., probably in the period of Augustus, like other nearby Roman dams. It was quickly filled due to the extreme and generalized anthropic degradation in the basin during the Roman period. During the mid‐2nd century, the wall was increased in height and its final silting was dated to the early 7th century. The study of the opus caementicium mortars shows constructive differences between the initial and subsequent phases of the wall. These mortars provided charcoal for dating the two phases. In addition, the stratigraphic and edaphological study of the reservoir's sedimentary fill, together with the 14C ages, allowed us to reconstruct the two main activity cycles and the final siltation of the dam. Subsequently, the dam broke in two phases, which created the two stepped sections located on the current valley bottom. The data obtained allowed the creation of a geomorphological map and an evolutionary model of the valley showing the main differentiated stages, from the initial construction of the dam to its final opening. Although some remains of canals downstream of the dam have been identified, the use of this dam, which remained active for several centuries, still needs to be investigated in greater detail

Landscape footprints of peopling and colonisation from the Late Bronze Age to Antiquity in the coastal hinterland of Emporion-Emporiae , NE Iberia

International audienceThe Empordà plain attests to a remarkable mixture of Late-Holocene cultural exchanges and colonial processes. This includes the founding of Emporion, the earliest Greek colony in Iberia, and of the Roman city of Emporiae. This study aims at assessing landscape changes related to indigenous and colonial settlement in this unique scenario where the shaping of cultural landscapes occurred within a dynamic coastal ecosystem. We carried out a high-temporal resolution palaeoenvironmental study in Els Estanys, a palaeowetland located in the vicinity of Emporion-Emporiae. Palynological, sedimentological and geochemical indicators were coupled with available archaeological and archaeobotanical data-sets. Between 1100 and 800 cal BC, the settling of Urnfield Late Bronze societies resulted in the sustained clearance of woodlands and moderate agropastoral exploitation of coastal ranges. During this period, marine-influenced lagoonal areas were poorly exploited. During the Iron Age (800–450 cal BC), a threshold in the landscape construction of the area occurred with the first pastoral exploitation of lagoonal areas, intensified cereal cultivation, controlled burning, and enhanced deforestation following the settlement of Iberian groups. Greek colonisation (580–200 cal BC), did not trigger intensified farming exploitation or landscape clearance, nor did it imply the introduction of new land uses or crops in the hinterland. Exploitation of the latter continued relying on cereal cultivation and grazing, as before, suggesting the permanence of indigenous landscapes and practices in the hinterland. To the contrary, urban and periurban landscapes played a significant role in the construction of the colonial landscape with the introduction of olive groves likely as ornamental trees. Roman conquest and colonisation of the area constituted a new threshold in the occupation and management of the hinterland with (1) intensified rural settlement; (2) expansion of wet pastures and removal of littoral woodlands; (3) development of diversified cropping activities; and (4) development of mining and smelting activities

Landscape footprints of peopling and colonisation from the Late Bronze Age to Antiquity in the coastal hinterland of <i>Emporion-Emporiae</i>, NE Iberia.

The Empordà plain attests to a remarkable mixture of Late-Holocene cultural exchanges and colonial processes. This includes the founding of Emporion, the earliest Greek colony in Iberia, and of the Roman city of Emporiae. This study aims at assessing landscape changes related to indigenous and colonial settlement in this unique scenario where the shaping of cultural landscapes occurred within a dynamic coastal ecosystem. We carried out a high-temporal resolution palaeoenvironmental study in Els Estanys, a palaeowetland located in the vicinity of Emporion-Emporiae. Palynological, sedimentological and geochemical indicators were coupled with available archaeological and archaeobotanical data-sets. Between 1100 and 800 cal BC, the settling of Urnfield Late Bronze societies resulted in the sustained clearance of woodlands and moderate agropastoral exploitation of coastal ranges. During this period, marine-influenced lagoonal areas were poorly exploited. During the Iron Age (800–450 cal BC), a threshold in the landscape construction of the area occurred with the first pastoral exploitation of lagoonal areas, intensified cereal cultivation, controlled burning, and enhanced deforestation following the settlement of Iberian groups. Greek colonisation (580–200 cal BC), did not trigger intensified farming exploitation or landscape clearance, nor did it imply the introduction of new land uses or crops in the hinterland. Exploitation of the latter continued relying on cereal cultivation and grazing, as before, suggesting the permanence of indigenous landscapes and practices in the hinterland. To the contrary, urban and periurban landscapes played a significant role in the construction of the colonial landscape with the introduction of olive groves likely as ornamental trees. Roman conquest and colonisation of the area constituted a new threshold in the occupation and management of the hinterland with (1) intensified rural settlement; (2) expansion of wet pastures and removal of littoral woodlands; (3) development of diversified cropping activities; and (4) development of mining and smelting activities. </jats:p

Pràctiques ramaderes al nord-est de la Tarraconense durant la Tardoantiguitat (segles IV-VIII): aproximació arqueozoològica a l'explotació i l'alimentació del bestiar.

L’objectiu de la present Tesi Doctoral – intitulada “Pràctiques ramaderes al nord-est de la Tarraconense durant la Tardoantiguitat (segles IV-VIII): aproximació arqueozoològica a l'explotació i l'alimentació del bestiar.” – és la d’aportar coneixement sobre els diversos sistemes ramaders que es van dur a terme durant l’Antiguitat Tardana (segles IV-VIII d.n.e.) al nord-est de l’antiga província de la Tarraconense. Durant aquest període, la regió sota estudi va ser testimoni de grans canvis tant a nivell polític, social com econòmic. Dins d’aquests grans canvis que va influenciar la societat de l’època es troba la ramaderia, activitat fonamental per al desenvolupament de la comunitat. L’anàlisi arqueozoològica duta a terme sobre les restes faunístiques de sis jaciments emmarcats dins de la Tardoantiguitat de la regió sota estudi – i la seva posterior comparació amb els pocs altres estudis arquezoològics disponibles previs d’aquest període – ha permès posar llum sobre la recerca relativa a les pràctiques ramaderes emprades durant aquest període, àrea de coneixement on a dia d’avui encara hi ha força foscor, comparada amb el període romà o medieval. A més, l’aplicació de l’anàlisi del microdesgast dentari sobre els molars dels ovicaprins dels conjunts arqueozoològics analitzats i la creació del primer referencial de microdesgast dentari d’ovelles domèstiques – dissenyat i dut a terme amb el propòsit d’estudiar els sistemes de gestió alimentària emprats per les societats agropastorals pretèrites – han permès proposar possibles estratègies usades per péixer el ramat ovicaprí, tenint en consideració les dades paleoambientals vigents. La present recerca ha permès documentar la pràctica d’unes estratègies ramaderes orientades principalment vers l’explotació de la cabana ovicaprina per sobre de suïns i bovins, tendència que es veu accentuada amb la fi del model de les villae de tradició romana. A més, les dades de microdesgast dentari han permès proposar una generalització de l’ús de farratges emmagatzemats per la dieta d’ovelles i cabres.El objectivo de la presente Tesis Doctoral – intitulada “Prácticas ganaderas en el nordeste de la Tarraconense durante la Tardoantigüedad (siglos IV-VIII): aproximación arqueozoológica a la explotación y alimentación del ganado.” – es la de aportar conocimiento sobre los diversos sistemas ganaderos que se usaron durante la Antigüedad Tardía (siglos IV-VIII d.n.e.) en el nordeste de la antigua provincia de la Tarraconense. Durante este periodo, la región bajo estudio fue testigo de grandes cambios tanto a nivel político, social como económico. Dentro de estos grandes cambios que influenciaron sobre la sociedad de la época se encuentra la ganadería, actividad fundamental para el desarrollo de la comunidad. El análisis arqueozoológico llevado a cabo sobre los restos faunísticos de seis yacimientos arqueológicos emmarcados dentro de la Tardoantigüedad de la región bajo estudio – y su posterior comparación con los pocos otros estudios arqueozoológicos disponibles previos de este periodo – ha permitido aportar luz sobre la investigación de las prácticas ganaderas llevadas a cabo durante este periodo, área de conocimiento donde a día de hoy todavía hay demasiadas oscuridad, en comparación con el periodo romano o medieval. Además, el empleo del análisis de microdesgaste dentario sobre los molares de los ovicaprinos de los conjuntos arqueozoológicos analizados y la creación del primer referencial de microdesgaste dentario de ovejas domésticas – diseñado y materializado con el propósito de estudiar los posibles sistemas de gestión alimentaria empleados por las sociedades agropastorales pretéritas – han permitido proponer posibles estrategias usadas para nutrir al ganado ovicaprino, teniendo en consideración los datos paleoambientales vigentes. La presente investigación ha permitido documentar la práctica de unas estrategias ganaderas orientadas principalmente hacia la explotación de la cabaña ovicaprina por encima de suinos y bovinos, tendencia que se ve acentuada con el fin del modelo de las villae de tradición romana. Además, los datos de microdesgaste dentario han permitido proponer una generalización del uso de forrajes almacenados para la dieta de ovejas y cabras.The aim of this PhD dissertation – entitled “Animal husbandry in the north-east of Tarraconensis during Late Antiquity (IV-VIII centuries CE): an archaeozoological approach to the exploitation and feeding management of the herd” – is to contribute to a better understanding of the animal husbandry systems that were put into practice during the Late Antiquity period (4th – 8th c. CE) in the North-East of the ancient province of Tarraconensis. During this period, the region under study witnessed major changes at political, social and economic level. Within these major changes that influenced the society of the time is livestock, essential activity for the community development. The archaeozoological analysis carried out on Late Antiquity faunal remains from six archaeological sites from Tarraconensis– and their subsequent comparison with the few available previous case studies completed for this period of history – sheds some light onto livestock practices during this historical period, a field of study where today there is still some obscurity. Furthermore, with the application of the dental microwear analysis on ovicaprine molar remains from the analysed faunal assemblages – and the creation of the first dental microwear reference collection for domestic sheep, designed for and carried out with the objective of studying the feeding management systems exercised by past agropastoral societies – it can be proposed possible strategies used to feed the ovicaprine herds, taking into account current paleoenvironmental data. The present research reveals the practice of livestock strategies principally pointed towards the exploitation of ovicaprine herds above swine and bovines, a trend which is increased with the end of the villae model from the Roman tradition. In addition, the dental microwear data uncovered the generalised use of stored fodder for the diet of sheep and goats