"Fold but not sheepfold"
The functional interpretation of cave deposits known as fumiers (organic accumulations generated by livestock stabling) has traditionally been linked to the keeping of small ruminants, particularly sheep and goats. However, recent archaeozoological research suggests that such deposits may reflect a...
| Autores: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| Repositorio: | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:uabarcelona_::1d8c23182de46ff346017a9760f64ac2 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327993 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105695 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Chalcolithic husbandry Cantabrian Region Archaeozoology Fumier deposits Livestock stabling Iberian Peninsula |
| Sumario: | The functional interpretation of cave deposits known as fumiers (organic accumulations generated by livestock stabling) has traditionally been linked to the keeping of small ruminants, particularly sheep and goats. However, recent archaeozoological research suggests that such deposits may reflect a wider range of herding practices and species management strategies. This study examines the Chalcolithic faunal assemblage (3000-2500 cal BCE) from the rock shelter of El Abrigo de La Castañera (Obregón de Villaescusa, Cantabria, northern Spain) to reassess the nature of these contexts. A total of 6,874 faunal remains were analyzed using taxonomic, taphonomic, and mortality-profile criteria. The results confirm the presence of a typical fumier deposit, characterized by the abundance of neonatal remains, burnt layers and a high bone fragmentation, but with an atypical taxonomic composition. Unlike Mediterranean sheepfold caves dominated by ovines and caprines, the assemblage from La Castañera is overwhelmingly composed of cattle (Bos taurus) and pigs (Sus domesticus), while sheep and goats (Ovis/Capra) play a secondary role. Mortality profiles and butchery marks indicate species-specific management strategies: cattle were used for meat and milk; pigs were raised intensively for fast meat and fat production; and caprines played a minor economic role. These data reveal a diversified herding system adapted to the humid Cantabrian environmental conditions, challenging the taxonomic definition of fumiers and emphasizing their interpretation as multifunctional stabling and consumption deposits reflecting the economic and social complexity of Chalcolithic communities. |
|---|