Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Feb 17;16(2):e0246201.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246201. eCollection 2021.

Resilience and livestock adaptations to demographic growth and technological change: A diachronic perspective from the Late Bronze Age to Late Antiquity in NE Iberia

Ariadna Nieto Espinet  1 , Thomas Huet  2 , Angela Trentacoste  3 , Silvia Guimarães  1   4 , Hector Orengo  5 , Silvia Valenzuela-Lamas  1
Affiliations

Resilience and livestock adaptations to demographic growth and technological change: A diachronic perspective from the Late Bronze Age to Late Antiquity in NE Iberia

Ariadna Nieto Espinet et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

There are strong interactions between an economic system and its ecological context. In this sense, livestock have been an integral part of human economies since the Neolithic, contributing significantly to the creation and maintenance of agricultural anthropized landscapes. For this reason, in the frame of the ERC-StG project 'ZooMWest' we collected and analyzed thousands of zooarchaeological data from NE Iberia. By considering these data in comparison with ecological indicators (archaeobotanical remains) and archaeological evidence (settlement characteristics and their distribution) this paper seeks to characterize changes in animal production and the relationship between people, livestock, and their environment. These methods allow for an investigation of the topic at different scales (site, zone, territory) with a broad diachronic perspective, and for consideration of orography and cultural traditions alongside climatic factors. Through this integration of various streams of evidence, we aim to better understand the structure of ancient economic systems and the way they conditioned human decision-making on animal production. Results show a shifting relationship with the territory between the Bronze Age and Late Antiquity, in which market requirements and an economic model with a higher degree of integration increasingly influenced husbandry strategies. These processes are reflected in changes in land use and forms of territorial occupation, although along different rhythms and trajectories.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Map of NE Iberia with locations of the studied sites.
A) Location of geographical areas (NC: North Coast, CC: Central Coast, SC: South Coast, OP: Occidental Plain) with sites colored depending of archaeozoological data availability (NISP: Counts by species, BIO: Biometrical data) with elevation map reprinted using open data from Geofabrik and the U.S. Geological Survey [55,56]; B) Köppen-Geiger climate classification reprinted from open data Zenodo [57]. The classification is based on threshold values and seasonality of monthly air temperature and precipitation. Considering vegetation as “crystallized, visible climate” C) Averages of year solar radiations between 1970–2000 [58]. D) Averages of rain precipitations between 1970–2000 [58] reprinted from WorldClim (CC-BY SA 4.0). List of sites: 1. Esquerda; 2. Alorda Park; 3. Antigons; 4. Aubert; 5. Baetulo; 6.Barranc de Gàfols; 7. Bosc del Congost; 8. Burriac; 9. Ca n’Oliver; 10. Can Bartomeu; 11. Can Cruzate; 12. Can Feu; 13. Turó de la Rovira; 14. Can Gambús 1; 14. Can Gambús 3; 15. Can Roqueta_DIASA; 15. Can Roqueta CRV; 15. Can Roqueta TR; 16. Carretelà; 17.Ciutadella de Roses; 18. Cova Punta Farisa; 19. Empúries; 21. Fonollera; 22. Gou Batlle; 23. Ilerda 1; 23. Ilerda; 23. Ilerda 2; 24. Illa d’en Reixac; 25. Puig Castellar; 26. Iluro_VI_VII; 27. La Llosa; 28. Mallols; 29. Mas Castellar rural; 29. Mas Castellar fortificat; 29. Mas Castellar; 30. Mas Gusó; 32. Moleta del Remei 1_1; 33. Molí d’Espígol; 34. Olèrdola; 35. Olius; 36. Olivet d’en Pujol; 37. La Pedrera; 38. Penya del Moro; 39. Puig de la Misericordia; 40. Puig de la Nau; 41. Sant Boi_Pl Constitució; 42. Sant Jaume Mas d’en Serrà; 43. Sant Martí Empúries; 44. Sant Sebastià de la Guarda; 45. Santa Margarida; 46. Saus; 47. Sigarra; 48. Sitges UAB; 49. Solana; 50. St. Julià de Ramis; 51. Tarraco; 52. Tolegassos; 53. Torre Cremada; 54. Torre Llauder; 55. Tossal Molinet; 56. Turó del Vent; 57. Turó Font de la Canya; 58. Vilarenc; 59. Vilars; 60. Vilauba; 61. Vil·la Vinyet; 62. Vil·la dels Ametllers; 63. Vilot de Montagut; 64.Vincamet; 65. Zafranales; 68. Camp de les Lloses; 69. Camp Gran-Camp d’en Pitu Porrusia; 70. Can Cruzate; 71. Coll del Moro; 72. Collet de Sant Antoni; 73. Estinclells; 74. Fonollera; 76. Les Guardies; 77. Lleida_Carrer Bafart; 78. Mas d’en Gual; 79. Mas Xirgù; 80. Monterò; 82. Puig de la Misericordia; 84. Rosella; 83. Roques del Sarrò; 85. Tossal del Moro de Pinyeres; 86. Turo del Calvari; 87. Puig Castellar Biosca; 88. Puig de Sant Andreu; 89. Torre Roja; 91. Hereuet; 92. Missatges; 94. Iesso; 95. Vil·la Torre Andreu; 97. Vilans de Reig; 101. Can Mateu; 102. Can Bernat; 103. Can Rodon; 106. Can Sant Joan; 107. Mas Duran.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Chrono-typology seriation of the 127 studied assemblages from Late Bronze Age to Late Antiquity.
(LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity). The x-axis represents the assemblages by periods and the y-axis represented the type of sites. List of assemblage numbers: 1. Esquerda; 2a. Alorda Park 2a; 2b. Alorda Park 2b; 3a. Antigons_waste dump; 3b. Antigons_Nymphaeum; 4. Aubert; 5. Baetulo; 6a. Barranc de Gàfols_1; 6b. Barranc de Gàfols_2; 7a. Bosc del Congost; 7b. Bosc del Congost; 8. Burriac; 9a. Ca n’Oliver 1; 9b. Ca n’Oliver 2_3; 10a. Can Bartomeu; 10b. Can Bartomeu; 11a. Can Cruzate; 11b. Can Cruzate; 12a. Can Feu; 12b. Can Feu; 13. Turó de la Rovira; 14a. Can Gambús 3; 14b. Can Gambús 3; 14c. Can Gambús 1; 14d. Can Gambús 1; 15a. Can Roqueta CRV; 15b. Can Roqueta TR; 15c. Can Roqueta DIASA; 15d. Can Roqueta TR; 16. Carretelà; 17. Ciutadella de Roses; 18. Cova Punta Farisa; 19a. Empúries; 19b. Empúries; 19c. Empúries; 21. Fonollera; 22. Gou Batlle; 23a. Ilerda; 23c. Ilerda1_Carrer Magdalena 47; 23d. Ilerda2_Carrer Bafart 46; 24a.I lla d’en Reixach 2_3; 24b. Illa d’en Reixach 4_5_6; 25. Puig Castellar; 26. Iluro_VI_VII; 27a. La Llosa; 27b. La Llosa; 28. Mallols; 29a. Mas Castellar_fortified; 29b. Mas Castellar_rural; 29c. Mas Castellar; 30. Mas Gusó; 32. Moleta del Remei 1_2; 33a. Molí d’Espígol; 33b. Molí d’Espígol; 34a. Olèrdola 1; 34b. Olèrdola 2; 35. Olius; 36. Olivet d’en Pujol; 37. La Pedrera IV-VII; 38. Penya del Moro; 39. Puig de la Misericordia; 40a. Puig de la Nau; 40b. Puig de la Nau; 41b. Sant Boi_Pl. Constitució; 41c. Sant Boi_Pl. Constitució; 41d. Sant Boi_Pl. Constitució; 42. Sant Jaume Mas d’en Serrà_sect. 1; 43a. Sant Martí d’Empúries; 43b. Sant Martí d’Empúries; 43c. Sant Martí d’Empúries; 43d. Sant Martí d’Empúries; 44a. Sant Sebastià de la Guarda; 44b. Sant Sebastià de la Guarda; 45. Santa Margarida; 46. Saus; 47a. Sigarra; 47b. Sigarra; 48. Sitges UAB; 49. Solana; 50a. St. Julià de Ramis; 50b. St. Julià de Ramis; 51. Tarraco; 52. Tolegassos; 53. Torre Cremada; 54a. Torre Llauder; 54b. Torre Llauder; 54c. Torre Llauder; 55a. Tossal Molinet I-II; 55b. Tossal Molinet III; 56. Turó del Vent 1–2; 57a. Turó Font de la Canya 0; 57b. Turó Font de la Canya 1; 57c. Turó Font de la Canya 2_3; 58a. Vilarenc; 58b. Vilarenc; 59a. Vilars 0_I; 59b. Vilars II; 59c. Vilars III_IV; 60a. Vilauba; 60b. Vilauba; 60c. Vilauba; 61a. Vil·la Vinyet; 61b. Vil·la del Vinyet; 62. Vil·la dels Ametllers; 63. Vilot de Montagut 0-III; 64. Vincamet; 65. Zafranales; 71. Coll del Moro; 78. Mas d’en Gual; 84. Rosella; 87. Puig Castellar Biosca; 88. Puig de Sant Andreu; 89a. Torre Roja; 89b. Torre Roja; 89c. Torre Roja; 90a. Mas d’en Boixos; 90b. Mas d’en Boixos; 91. Hereuet; 92. Missatges; 94. Iesso; 95. Vil·la Torre Andreu; 97. Vilans de Reig; 101. Can Mateu; 102. Can Bernat; 103a. Can Rodon; 103b. Can Rodon; 106. Can Sant Joan; 107. Mas Duran.
Fig 3
Fig 3
3.1. NISP percentages histograms of main domesticates (cattle, pig and sheep/goat) by site and periods (LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2). Numbers of sites refer to Fig 2. 3.2 NISP percentages histograms of main domesticates (cattle, pig and sheep/goat) grouped by sites and ordered by periods (RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity). Numbers of sites refer to Fig 2.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) of sites’ NISP profiles ordered by periods.
(LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity). Numbers of sites refer to Fig 2. Dendrograms are identical expect except for site labelling: HCA left aligned shows symbols of sites’ types (see Fig 2). HCA right aligned shows symbols of sites’ geographical zones (see Fig 1).
Fig 5
Fig 5. NISP percents of main domesticates (cattle, pig and sheep/goat) grouped by zones and ordered by periods.
(LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity). Chi-square results showing significant changes between periods are displayed with their p-value: ***: highly significant (< 0.01); **: significant (< 0.05); * less significant (< 0.1).
Fig 6
Fig 6. Correspondence Analysis (CA) on main domesticates NISP (cattle, pig and sheep/goat) grouped by periods and zones (i.e. statistical individuals).
Symbol colors refer to the geographical zones (see Fig 1): Occidental Plain (red points), South Coast (yellow points), Central Coast (blue points), North Coast (green points). Main domestic species (i.e. statistical variables) are represented by their animal shape. Numbers refer to zones and periods: 1. CC-LBA; 2.CC-EIA; 3.CC-ERE; 4.CC-MIA1; 5.CC-MIA2; 6.CC-LA; 7.CC-ERE; 8.CC-RR; 9.NC-LBA; 10.NC-EIA; 11.NC-ERE; 12.NC-MIA1; 13.NC-MIA2; 14.NC-LA; 15.NC-LRE; 16.NC-RR; 17.SC-EIA; 18.SC-MIA1; 19.SC-MIA2; 20.SC-RR; 21.OP-LBA; 22.OP-EIA; 23.OP-ERE; 24.OP-MIA1; 25.OP-MIA2; 26.OP-LRE; 27. PO-RR.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Length LSI values distribution diagram of cattle, pig and sheep/goat bones, by species (in rows) and geographical areas (in columns).
Sheep and goats were considered together (see text for details). For each cell of the diagram, LSI values are displayed on the y-axis and chronological periods on the x-axis: LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity. Box plots quartiles measures only represent statistics on main domesticates, i.e. wild individuals values are displayed but excluded from statistics. Wild individuals: wild boar (black points), actual Capra pyrenaica hispanica (black points), modern Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica (grey points) [15]; actual Xisqueta breed sheep and Catalan goat breed.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Width LSI values distribution diagram of cattle, pig and sheep/goat bones, by species (in rows) and geographical areas (in columns).
Sheep and goats are considered together. For each cell of the diagram, LSI values are displayed on the y-axis and chronological periods on the x-axis: LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity. Boxplots quartiles measures only represent statistics on main domestic, i.e. wild individuals values are displayed but excluded from statistics. Wild individuals: wild boar (black points), actual Capra pyrenaica hispanica (black points), modern Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica (grey points) [15]; actual Xisqueta breed sheep and Catalan goat breed.
Fig 9
Fig 9. Cattle LSI length and width values by assemblages ordered by periods.
(from top to bottom, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity). Left column shows length LSI values, right column shows width LSI values. Assemblages’ symbols refer to their type (see Fig 2).
Fig 10
Fig 10. Sheep and goats LSI length and width values by assemblages ordered by periods.
(from top to bottom, LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity). Left column shows length LSI values, right column shows width LSI values. Assemblages’ symbols refer to their type (see Fig 2).
Fig 11
Fig 11. Pigs LSI length and width values by assemblages ordered by periods.
(from top to bottom, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity). Left column shows length LSI values, right column shows width LSI values. Assemblages’ symbols refer to their type (see Fig 2).
Fig 12
Fig 12. Synthesis of NISP frequencies and animal size for the main domesticates between Late Bronze Age (LBA) and Late Antiquity (LA) in the Occidental Plain (OP), Central Coast (CC) and North Coast (NC) compared to paleoenvironmental proxies.
From top to bottom: paleoenvironmental proxies, main domestic NISP profiles (in percent), main domestic LSI lengths (in blue, Length) and widths (in red, Width) values with their total number of bones considered (see text for references).
Fig 13
Fig 13. Synthesis of the NISP percentages and size change of the main domesticates (top) compared to other proxies (bottom) in Catalonia between Late Bronze Age (LBA) and Late Antiquity (LA), from left to right, LBA: Late Bronze Age, EIA: Early Iron Age, MIA1: Middle Iron Age 1, MIA2: Middle Iron Age 2, RR: Roman Republic, ERE: Early Roman Empire, LRE: Late Roman Empire, LA: Late Antiquity.
Chi-square results showing significant changes between periods are displayed with their p-value: ***: highly significant (< 0.01); **: significant (< 0.05); * less significant (< 0.1).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

  • ZooMS confirms geometric morphometrics species identification of ancient sheep and goat.
    Jeanjean M, McGrath K, Valenzuela-Lamas S, Nieto-Espinet A, Schafberg R, Parés-Casanova PM, Jiménez-Manchón S, Guintard C, Tekkouk F, Ridouh R, Mureau C, Evin A. Jeanjean M, et al. R Soc Open Sci. 2023 Sep 27;10(9):230672. doi: 10.1098/rsos.230672. eCollection 2023 Sep. R Soc Open Sci. 2023. PMID: 37771960 Free PMC article.
  • A biological reading of a palimpsest.
    Viñas-Caron LC, Rodríguez Palomo I, Fazlic N, Vnouček J, Driscoll M, Fiddyment S, Collins MJ. Viñas-Caron LC, et al. iScience. 2023 Apr 29;26(6):106786. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106786. eCollection 2023 Jun 16. iScience. 2023. PMID: 37213229 Free PMC article.

References

    1. Collis J. The European Iron Age. Taylor&Francis. London and New York: Routledge; 2003.
    1. Cunliffe B. The Ancient Celts, Second Edition Oxford University Press; 2018.
    1. Lichardus-Itten M, Lichardus J. La protohistoire de l’Europe: Le Néolithique et le Chalcolithique entre la Méditerranée et la mer Baltique. Presses Universitaires de France; 2018.
    1. Guilaine J. La mer partagée. La Méditerranée avant l’écriture, 7000–2000 avant Jésus-Christ. Paris: Hachette; 1994.
    1. Hodder I. The Domestication of Europe | Wiley. New Jersey, United States: Wiley-Blackwell; 1991. 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1991.tb15993.x - DOI

Publication types

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the ERC-Starting Grant ZooMWest – Zooarchaeology and Mobility in the Western Mediterranean: Husbandry production from the Late Bronze Age to the Late Antiquity (award number 716298), funded by the European Research Council Agency (ERCEA) under the direction of Sílvia Valenzuela-Lamas. In cooperation with PID2019-110022GB -100 MOBICEX (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, ES); 2017 SGR 995-GRC-Archaeology of Social Dynamics (ASD)-CSIC (Generalitat de Catalunya, ES). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

LinkOut - more resources