"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 documento: | artigo |
| Data de publicação: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Recursos: | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| Repositório: | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:uabarcelona_::1d8c23182de46ff346017a9760f64ac2 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327993 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105695 |
| Access Level: | Acceso aberto |
| Palavra-chave: | Chalcolithic husbandry Cantabrian Region Archaeozoology Fumier deposits Livestock stabling Iberian Peninsula |
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"Fold but not sheepfold"The Chalcolithic level (3000-2500 cal BCE) of the Abrigo de la Castañera (Obregón de Villaescusa, Spain)Mata Ferrer, Sergi|||0009-0009-5863-0498Sierra Sainz Aja, Alejandro|||0000-0003-2903-7846Vega Maeso, Cristina|||0000-0002-5329-9726Marín-Arroyo, Ana B.|||0000-0003-3353-5581Carmona Ballestero, Eduardo|||0000-0003-2467-4272Chalcolithic husbandryCantabrian RegionArchaeozoologyFumier depositsLivestock stablingIberian PeninsulaThe 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. 22026-01-0120262026-01-01Articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://ddd.uab.cat/record/327993https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105695reponame:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UABinstname:Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaInglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:uabarcelona_::1d8c23182de46ff346017a9760f64ac22026-06-06T12:50:31Z |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
"Fold but not sheepfold" The Chalcolithic level (3000-2500 cal BCE) of the Abrigo de la Castañera (Obregón de Villaescusa, Spain) |
| title |
"Fold but not sheepfold" |
| spellingShingle |
"Fold but not sheepfold" Mata Ferrer, Sergi|||0009-0009-5863-0498 Chalcolithic husbandry Cantabrian Region Archaeozoology Fumier deposits Livestock stabling Iberian Peninsula |
| title_short |
"Fold but not sheepfold" |
| title_full |
"Fold but not sheepfold" |
| title_fullStr |
"Fold but not sheepfold" |
| title_full_unstemmed |
"Fold but not sheepfold" |
| title_sort |
"Fold but not sheepfold" |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv |
Mata Ferrer, Sergi|||0009-0009-5863-0498 Sierra Sainz Aja, Alejandro|||0000-0003-2903-7846 Vega Maeso, Cristina|||0000-0002-5329-9726 Marín-Arroyo, Ana B.|||0000-0003-3353-5581 Carmona Ballestero, Eduardo|||0000-0003-2467-4272 |
| author |
Mata Ferrer, Sergi|||0009-0009-5863-0498 |
| author_facet |
Mata Ferrer, Sergi|||0009-0009-5863-0498 Sierra Sainz Aja, Alejandro|||0000-0003-2903-7846 Vega Maeso, Cristina|||0000-0002-5329-9726 Marín-Arroyo, Ana B.|||0000-0003-3353-5581 Carmona Ballestero, Eduardo|||0000-0003-2467-4272 |
| author_role |
author |
| author2 |
Sierra Sainz Aja, Alejandro|||0000-0003-2903-7846 Vega Maeso, Cristina|||0000-0002-5329-9726 Marín-Arroyo, Ana B.|||0000-0003-3353-5581 Carmona Ballestero, Eduardo|||0000-0003-2467-4272 |
| author2_role |
author author author author |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv |
Chalcolithic husbandry Cantabrian Region Archaeozoology Fumier deposits Livestock stabling Iberian Peninsula |
| topic |
Chalcolithic husbandry Cantabrian Region Archaeozoology Fumier deposits Livestock stabling Iberian Peninsula |
| description |
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. |
| publishDate |
2026 |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2 2026-01-01 2026 2026-01-01 |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv |
Article http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 VoR http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85 |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
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article |
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https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327993 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105695 |
| url |
https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327993 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105695 |
| dc.language.none.fl_str_mv |
Inglés eng |
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Inglés |
| language |
eng |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv |
open access http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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open access http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
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openAccess |
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application/pdf |
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reponame:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB instname:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
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Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
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Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
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