Unravelling modes of livestock management in the central Pyrénées during the early Neolithic.
Résumé
The adoption of animal husbandry in the different areas that make up the Iberian Peninsula was fast, with all domestic species
(sheep, goat, cattle, pig) being documented in all regions between 5600 and 5400 cal BC. The speed of this process must have been
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due to the fast adaptation of farmers’ societies to differing environments by modifying livestock management. This work aims to
contribute to a better understanding of the Neolithisation process in the Iberian Peninsula with a multidisciplinary study of one of
the earliest assemblage for the Early Neolithic in the Iberian Peninsula. To this end, this paper presents an integrated approach including
archaeozoological, isotopic, and dental microwear analyses of the domestic herds from the Chaves cave (Central Pyrenees;
5600-4900 cal BC). The results document strategies applied to the management of domestic herds reproduction, feeding and
demography, in relationship to the exploitation of animal productions. Sheep herd shows the existence of “out-of-season” lambing
(autumn/early winter) and low seasonal variability in feeding, as far as could be evidenced from stable carbon isotope ratios and dental
microwear. Besides, the exploitation of this species for meat and milk consumption is documented. The cattle population also low
variability and high abrasiveness in their feeding. Finally, the pig population shows the feeding by production/consumption residues,
documenting a home-based system with stabling of herds. Furthermore, these results are compared with others published for the
Iberian Peninsula, in an attempt to elaborate a livestock production model for this region during the Early Neolithic. The results have
shown a rapid adaptation of farmers’ societies to the central Pyrenees (and to the Iberian Peninsula) and advanced zootechnical
practices reflecting strong knowledge of animals needs, being able to control the structure of the herds and sustainability of animal
productions.