Journal article
Environmental change and economic practices between the third and second millennia BC using isotope analyses of ovicaprid remains from the archeological site of Zambujal (Torres Vedras), Portugal
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Vol.5, pp.181-189
02/2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.11.017
Abstract
Widespread environmental changes are documented in the Iberian Peninsula between the third and second millennia BC. These include erosion, deforestation, and valley infilling, and are likely due to a combination of the 4.2kya climate event and anthropogenic activities. Contemporary with these environmental changes are social and cultural transformations associated with the Copper to Bronze Age transition, such as political consolidation or fragmentation, shifts in burial practices, and changes in exchange patterns. The causal links between these environmental and cultural changes have never been tested, however. In this study, we evaluate whether the diet of animal domesticates, which directly respond to ecological changes, occurred. Specifically, we evaluate whether the diet of ovicaprids from the site of Zambujal, Portugal changed significantly over this period. Zambujal is an extensively excavated and comprehensively dated settlement in the Portuguese Estremadura, with faunal remains recovered from all five phases of the site's occupation, extending from the third to early second millennia BC. A sample of 29 ovicaprid mandibles and maxillae, grouped into two diachronically distinct periods of the site's occupation, suggests that changes did occur, as statistically significant differences were found for stable isotopic indicators of diet between the two groups. We suggest that these isotopic differences document the impact of environmental change on cultural changes related to animal husbandry in Portugal during this period. •We analyze stable isotopes in ovicaprid skeletal remains from the late prehistoric site of Zambujal, Portugal.•Samples from faunal remains from older and later occupation sequences were compared.•The goal of these comparisons was to identify possible shifts in diet related to environmental changes.•Statistically significant changes in diets between the two time periods were found.•We relate these changes to anthropogenic and climate changes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Environmental change and economic practices between the third and second millennia BC using isotope analyses of ovicaprid remains from the archeological site of Zambujal (Torres Vedras), Portugal
- Creators
- Anna J Waterman - Mount Mercy University, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, 150 Basile Hall, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, USAKatina T Lillios - University of Iowa, Department of Anthropology, 114 Macbride Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242, USARobert H Tykot - University of South Florida, Department of Anthropology, Tampa, FL 33620-7200, USAMichael Kunst - Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Calle Serrano 159, 28002 Madrid, Spain
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Vol.5, pp.181-189
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.11.017
- ISSN
- 2352-409X
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: 1153568
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2016
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology; International Programs
- Record Identifier
- 9983983651702771
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