Genome data from a sixteenth century pig illuminate modern breed relationships

Ancient DNA (aDNA) provides direct evidence of historical events that have modeled the genome of modern individuals. In livestock, resolving the differences between the effects of initial domestication and of subsequent modern breeding is not straight forward without aDNA data. Here, we have obtained shotgun genome sequence data from a sixteenth century pig from Northeastern Spain (Montsoriu castle), the ancient pig was obtained from an extremely well-preserved and diverse assemblage. In addition, we provide the sequence of three new modern genomes from an Iberian pig, Spanish wild boar and a Guatemalan Creole pig. Comparison with both mitochondrial and autosomal genome data shows that the ancient pig is closely related to extant Iberian pigs and to European wild boar. Although the ancient sample was clearly domestic, admixture with wild boar also occurred, according to the D-statistics. The close relationship between Iberian, European wild boar and the ancient pig confirms that Asian introgression in modern Iberian pigs has not existed or has been negligible. In contrast, the Guatemalan Creole pig clusters apart from the Iberian pig genome, likely due to introgression from international breeds

Aproximació interdisciplinària a l'acció del foc en les inhumacions i aixovars del Neolític antic cardial de Can Sadurní (Begues, Baix Llobregat)

Antolín, F; Ache, M; Bergadà, M.M; Blasco, A; Buxó, R; Edo, M; Gibaja, J.F; Mensua, C; Palomo, A; Piqué, R; Ruiz, J; Saña, M; Verdún, E; Villalba, M.J. 2011 in Blasco, A; Edo, M; Villalba, M.J. (coord). La cova de Can Sadurní i la prehistòria de Garraf. Actes de les Jornades Internacionals de Prehistòria "El Garraf, 30 anys d'investigació arqueològica". Begues, 5 al 7 de desembre de 2008. Col·lecció Actes. EDAR-Hugony editore. Milano. 2011.[EN] This article presents an interdisciplinary study of archaeological materials excavated from the reservoir layer 18 of the cova de Can Sadurní (Begues, Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain). This layer is formed by a deposit coluvional blocks and gravels in a matrix of silty sand with clay. Ceramic materials are ascribed to the ancient neolithic cardial full and one of his datings obtained on grain seed is 5475-5305 cal ANE. The aim of this study answers the question: what is the origin of the whole and the relationship of the materials with fire.[CA] En aquest article es presenta un estudi interdisciplinari de materials arqueològics excavats de la capa de dipòsit 18 de la cova de Can Sadurní (Begues, Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalunya, Espanya). Aquesta capa està formada per un dipòsit de blocs coluvional i graves en una matriu de sorra llimosa amb argila. Els materials ceràmics són atribuïts a l'antic cardial neolítica complet i un dels seus datacions obtingudes en el germen del gra és 5475-5305 cal ANE. L'objectiu d'aquest estudi respon a la pregunta: quin és l'origen del conjunt i la relació dels materials amb foc.Peer Reviewe

Neonatal Mortality, Young Calf Slaughter and Milk Production during the Early Neolithic of North Western Mediterranean

TheNorth-WesternMediterraneanwitnessed a rapid expansion of farmers and their livestock during the EarlyNeolithic period. Depending on the region, cattle played a more or less important role in these communities; however how these animalswere exploited for theirmilk is not clear. Herewe investigate calfmortality to determine indirectly whether cattle dairying was practised by Early Neolithic stock herders. Age-at-death (AtD) frequencies for calves from two sites: Trasano (Italy, Impressa culture: 7–6th millennium BC) and La Draga (Spain, Cardial culture: 6th millennium BC) were estimated from dental eruption and development stages, and measurements of un-fused post-cranial material. Adult age classes are well represented in the dental AtD frequencies and were interpreted as the result of the slaughter of prime beef and retired lactating females. For calves aged less than 12 months, there was no statistical difference in the AtD frequencies based on dental and post-cranial material indicating that the data is a good representation of the mortality patterns of calves, either natural or deliberate. At both sites there was a strong mortality peak at 3–6months in all AtD profiles. At La Draga, this peak was clearly differentiated from a peak at 0–1month, which can be interpreted neonatal mortality possible a consequence of the birthing season coinciding with the end of winter during more humid climatic conditions that at present. The deliberate slaughter peak around 3–6months is discussed, and we propose that stock herders controlled the mortality of infant classes, possibly in response to variable external environment pressures while maintaining animal productivity

Prácticas alimentarias en la Edad del Hierro en Cataluña

The aim of this paper is to provide a state of the research on the eating habits concerning the Iron Age populations of Catalonia, with particular attention to the Iberian period, under the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya project "Eating and Drinking in the periphery of the GraecoRoman world: cultural and food habits of the northern Iberian (6th-2nd cent. BCE)". The main goal of this project is the study of food habits in the Catalan Iberian world from a global and interdisciplinary approach that considers all aspects of the food phenomenon (technical, instrumental, social, cognitive) as an expression of a specific cultural reality

Prácticas alimentarias en la Edad del Hierro en Cataluña

The aim of this paper is to provide a state of the research on the eating habits concerning the Iron Age populations of Catalonia, with particular attention to the Iberian period, under the Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya project “Eating and Drinking in the periphery of the Graeco-Roman world: cultural and food habits of the northern Iberian (6th-2nd cent. BCE)”. The main goal of this project is the study of food habits in the Catalan Iberian world from a global and interdisciplinary approach that considers all aspects of the food phenomenon (technical, instrumental, social, cognitive) as an expression of a specific cultural reality

La cueva de Can Sadurní (Begues, Barcelona): el episodio funerario del neolítico antiguo cardial pleno. Estado actual de la cuestión

En: Juan Francisco Gibaja Bao, Millán Mozota Holgueras, Maria Eulália Subirá Galdacano & Araceli Martín Cólliga (coords.) (2019) - Mirando a la muerte : las prácticas funerarias durante el Neolítico en el noreste peninsular. Volumen 3, Castelló de la Plana, E-DitArx, 388 p. (Col.: Akademos; 3). ISBN: 978-84-946902-7-3.La cueva de Can Sadurní se ubica en el municipio de Begues (Baix Llobregat, Barcelona). La cueva se halla situada a unos doscientos metros al noreste de la masía de Can Sadurní, de la cual toma su nombre, en la vertiente meridional del denominado Pla de Sots, que tiene una altura de 549 m., en la zona del Pla d’Ardenya. A tenor de los hallazgos hasta ahora realizados en el arco mediterráneo occidental, parece claro que las prácticas funerarias del Neolítico antiguo vienen fuertemente enraizadas en ritos heredados del Mesolítico, e incluso del Epipaleolítico y el Paleolítico superior. En estas fechas, la excavación en extensión del área de intervención del yacimiento está cerca de llegar al Neolítico antiguo epicardial del yacimiento, lo que viene a suponer unos tres años antes de la arribada a los episodios cardiales. Los autores esperan a partir de ese momento poder ofrecer una visión más clara de este periodo, crucial para la comprensión de la neolitización en el noreste peninsular dada la especial situación geográfica de Can Sadurní a las puertas del estuario del Llobregat que, junto a los yacimientos cardiales del llano de Barcelona, suponen la verdadera cabeza de puente de dicho fenómeno en la Cataluña central.Peer reviewe

Detecting the T1 cattle haplogroup in the Iberian Peninsula from Neolithic to medieval times: new clues to continuous cattle migration through time

The spread of domestic animals through time is one of the topics studied by archaeologists to assess human trade and migration. Here we present mitochondrial analysis of 42 archaeological cattle (Bos taurus) bone samples, from 16 different sites in the Iberian Peninsula and covering a broad timeframe (from the early Neolithic to the Middle Ages), to provide evidence about the origin and dispersion of the T1 cattle haplogroup in relation to human contacts and movements. The presence of the T1 haplotype in one sample from an early Neolithic site close to the Mediterranean coast of Iberia, and its continuing presence in the Peninsula during Roman and Medieval times, clearly demonstrates that T1 was not solely a Muslim or later introduction. Rather, our molecular data show evidence for a pioneer coastal colonisation of the Iberian Peninsula from the Mediterranean basin, followed by possible further colonisation, leading to a continuity of diversity through tim

An ecological analysis of the high-mountain landscape acculturation since the neolithic: Mountain national parks as a model

[EN] The initial presence of humans in the high mountains almost since 8000 years ago shows more elements of domestication than initially estimated. Although the geographic extent of archaeological explorations is still limited, there is evidence of domestic livestock use and, in some cases, likely mixed-cereal agriculture at intermediate altitudes. It has not been possible to verify an impact of this activity on the landscape yet. In the Pyrenees, the distribution of archaeological sites in the high mountain changes associated with climate in the middle of the Holocene. The occupation of shelters and the number of archaeological sites decline. However, the human impact on the landscape is evident in some palaeoecological registers during the Bronze Age and involves the forest opening for grazing, probably using fire, on many occasions. The Middle Ages constitute the definitive transformation of the landscape and an organization of the use of the territory that has remained largely to present. A greater variety of land use, such as mining and metallurgy, added to livestock also with strong impact on forests. In the Sierra Nevada, the development of the irrigation ditch system by the Andalusians modified the hydrology to the present, with other implications on the landscape yet to be determined. Likely, the medieval imprint is still present in the current distribution of the species and the edaphic processes that occur in the high mountain. From the initial mosaic of incipient transformations to the forcefulness and diversity of the Middle Ages, the spatial projection and temporal continuity on how the landscape acculturation of the high-mountain took place still require a deeper exploration throughout the territory.[ES] La presencia inicial de los humanos en la alta montaña desde hace poco menos de 8000 años presenta más elementos de domesticación de lo que inicialmente se había estimado. Aunque la extensión geográfica de las exploraciones arqueológicas es todavía limitada, hay evidencias de uso de ganado doméstico y, en algunos casos, una probable agricultura utilizando mezcla de cereales a cotas intermedias. Por el momento, no se ha podido constatar impacto en el paisaje de esta actividad. En los Pirineos, hay una variación en la distribución de yacimientos ar-queológicos en la alta montaña asociada con el cambio climático de mitad del Holoceno. Decrece la ocupación de abrigos y el número de yacimientos en su conjunto. Sin embargo, el impacto humano sobre el paisaje es evidente durante la Edad del Bronce y supone la apertura de espacios para el pastoreo, probablemente, en muchas ocasiones utilizando fuego. La Edad Media supone la transformación definitiva del paisaje y una organización del uso del territorio que se ha mantenido en buena medida hasta la actualidad. Al uso ganadero se añade una mayor variedad de explotaciones, como la minería y metalurgia, que inciden también en una fuerte presión sobre los bos-ques. En Sierra Nevada, el desarrollo del sistema de acequias por los andalusíes condiciona la hidrología hasta la actualidad, seguramente con otras implicaciones sobre el paisaje todavía por especificar. Es probable que la huella medieval esté todavía presente en la distribución actual de las especies y en los procesos edáficos que se dan en la alta montaña. La proyección espacial y continuidad temporal sobre cómo se dio la culturización del paisaje de la alta montaña, desde el mosaico inicial de incipientes transformaciones hasta la contundencia y diversidad de la Edad Media, todavía requiere de una exploración más profunda a lo largo del territorio.Peer reviewe

Sheep herd management during the Early Neolithic in the inland of the Iberian Peninsula. Isotopic analyses of El Mirador cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

The beginning of husbandry in the Iberian Peninsula has been documented from the second half of the 6th millennium BCE and was based on the breeding of domestic caprines, mainly sheep. The first evidence of these practices comes from the Mediterranean region, but they quickly expanded inland. Previous studies have reported on the importance of the El Mirador sheepfold cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain) for understanding the process of the adoption of a farming economy in this inland region. In this study, we focus on husbandry and sheep management occurring in the 6th and 5th millennium cal BCE occupations of El Mirador cave by means of sequential oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotope analyses in sheep molar tooth enamel. The results show a rapid adaptation and adoption of domestic sheep in the inland of the Iberian Peninsula. In El Mirador cave, well-organised sheep breeding was developed based on the concentration of births at the end of winter and early spring, for a period of ~2.64 months, which made husbandry more compatible with other economic activities. In 5th millennium levels, autumn births were also documented and may be indicative of the intervention of the shepherd in the reproductive cycle of the sheep and of a progressive adaptation of these animals to the interior of the Peninsula. All these strategies may have been supported by the recurrent occupations of the sheepfold, flocks grazing in the areas surrounding the cave and the possible use of leaf fodder in winter