Recursos cinegéticos y ganaderos en Myrtilis (Mértola, Portugal) en los inicios de la Romanización: una aportación desde la Arqueozoología

Abstract

Here we present the analysis of the faunal assemblage recovered during the archaeological excavations carried out in the Biblioteca Municipal of Mertola (Alentejo, Portugal). The samples studied are dated to the Late Iron Age and the Roman Republic periods. It is outstanding the high frequency of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and the dominance of porcine remains, among which some wild boar (Sus scrofa) may be present. This trend increases towards the change of Era. The data demostrates the importance of hunting resources in the local economy and the limited role played by livestock husbandry, in particular as far as cattle and caprines are concerned. With the aim of evaluting the impact of Romanization at regional and inter-regional levels results are discussed taking into account socio-economic and environmental issues.