My current line of research is focused on the study of changes in animal husbandry practices between the Iron Age through to the Roman period in the Mediterranean basin. I am particularly interested in the analysis of changes in animal mobility and animal morphology during these periods. I also study the ways in which animal husbandry strategies were practiced in upland areas with a special focus on Catalonia (Spain).
In: J.Lopez (ed). La glòria del circ: curses de carros i competicions circenses. In memoriam X... more In: J.Lopez (ed). La glòria del circ: curses de carros i competicions circenses. In memoriam Xavier Dupré i Raventós. Tarraco Biennal. 3r Congrés Internacional d’Arqueologia i Món Antic. Tarragona, 16-19 de novembre de 2016. Tarragona 2017. ISBN. 978-84-697-6930-0
Un hallazgo efectuado en los bajos del Ayuntamiento de Tarragona permitió descubrir los pilares laterales de uno de los carceres del circo de Tarraco. Llamó la atención sin embargo su relativa estrechez (2,5 m de anchura), sobre todo si se comparaba con las medidas del circo de Majencio. Se planteó la duda de si con esa anchura podían encajar en su interior los cuatro caballos de una cuadriga. La respuesta es afirmativa. Con este artículo pretendemos abordar esta cuestión contratando el estudio arquitectónico de los carceres circenses con los estudios osteométricos de caballos romanos.
Ancient written sources show that Roman funerary rituals were relevant along the entire Roman Rep... more Ancient written sources show that Roman funerary rituals were relevant along the entire Roman Republic and Empire, as they ensured the protection of deities and the memory of the deceased. Part of these rituals consisted of funerary offerings and banquets that were held on the day of the burial, in festivities and other stipulated days. The faunal remains recovered inside the graves and around them are evidence of these rituals. Therefore, their study can allow us to know if the funerary meals and rituals developed in the Roman necropolis were special and implied food that differed from everyday dietary habits, according to the importance of these rituals. To test this, we analysed the archaeozoological and anthropological material from the necropolis of Vila de Madrid (Barcelona, Catalonia), which was in use between the first half of the 2 nd century AD and mid 3 rd century AD. The archaeozoological analysis of the faunal remains recovered in the necropolis and inside the graves, as well as carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios results on bone collagen from 50 faunal specimens and 41 humans, suggest that, overall, funerary meals in Vila de Madrid necropolis did not imply different food than that consumed during life. Regarding age, sex, offerings and diet, some differences are observed, suggesting that inequalities present in life could have been also present in the funerary rituals.
In this paper we investigate the presence of the Roman army in the countryside of northeastern Ib... more In this paper we investigate the presence of the Roman army in the countryside of northeastern Iberia through the case study of Can Rubió, an archaeological site dated to the 1st c. BC-1st c. AD 1. The contextualisation of the archaeozoological information obtained from the study of 1,495 faunal remains, together with the structures and other finds from the site (pottery, metal and bone objects), allows us to hypothesise that Can Rubió was a military-logistics centre. Its main function would have been horse and cattle breeding to supply animals for riding, cargo and/or transport for the Roman army stationed in the hinterland of the Graeco-Roman city of Emporion. It would also have produced some goods for its own consumption, including wool, leather, milk and meat. The possible acquisition of portions of caprine and pork meat has also been documented. Thus, this paper provides information of great interest on a subject to which very little attention has been paid to date: the presence of the Roman army in a period in which the occupation and pacification of the area had already been completed.
In recent years, the study of animal husbandry in Roman Spain has undergone a remarkable developm... more In recent years, the study of animal husbandry in Roman Spain has undergone a remarkable development with archaeozoological data from villas and urban centres. Rural settlements, however, have yet to be fully studied and therefore the characteristics and economic importance of animal husbandry in the countryside is not yet completely understood. In this study we analysed the archaeozoological evidence (osteological and dental microwear analyses) from a coastal rural site (the small villa of Tolegassos), a rural mid-mountain site (the settlement of Can Rubió) and an eastern Pyrenean site (the town of Llívia) to shed light on this topic. The archaeozoological data from these three different rural sites indicate that the predominant type of livestock breeding in the countryside corresponded to small or medium-sized properties linked to the surrounding territory that, despite a more or less specialised vocation, practiced a wider diversification of livestock production.
Neira, L. (ed): Mosaicos romanos en su contexto rural: investigación y puesta en valor. L'Erma di Brestchenider. Roma, 2019
El desarrollo de sucesivas campañas de excavación en la villa romana de Fuente Álamo en las últim... more El desarrollo de sucesivas campañas de excavación en la villa romana de Fuente Álamo en las últimas décadas nos ha permitido documentar numerosos aspectos de la cultura material y las diversas fases de ocupación de los habitantes de este yacimiento en diversos momentos cronológicos. Además de la conocida villa monumental del periodo bajoimperial, estas intervenciones han permitido documentar en detalle otras fases de ocupación de este yacimiento durante los periodos altoimperial y tardoantiguo. El análisis integral de la cultura material procedente de una serie de depósitos selectos nos ha permitido desarrollar una discusión cronológica sobre ambos momentos de ocupación en el yacimiento. Conjuntamente a esta discusión inicial, la aplicación de una perspectiva de análisis integral para la cultura material de estos depósitos nos ha permitido caracterizar el tipo de economías domésticas que caracterizaron a cada una de estas fases de ocupación. La aplicación de una perspectiva similar a la de la llamada household archaeology para el estudio de estos contextos nos ha permitido obtener inferencias muy precisas sobre las formas de consumo desarrolladas por los habitantes del yacimiento en cada uno de estos periodos. El análisis de estos patrones de consumo nos ha permitido caracterizar dos comunidades completamente diferenciadas. En el caso de la fase altoimperial nos encontramos un asentamiento inclinado hacia prácticas de consumo conspicuo propias de sectores de las elites locales. El periodo tardoantiguo se distingue por un cambio sustancial en la economía domésticas de la comunidad que habitó el yacimiento en esta fase. Este periodo tardío, caracterizado por la re-ocupación de las instalaciones residenciales de la villa monumental del periodo anterior, presenta patrones económicos propios de comunidades campesinas.
Hommes et Caprinés : de la montagne à la steppe, de la chasse à l'élevage. XXXIXe rencontres internationales d’archéologie et d’histoire d’Antibes, 2019
Archaeological excavations at the settlement of Vilauba (northeast of the Iberian Peninsula) carr... more Archaeological excavations at the settlement of Vilauba (northeast of the Iberian Peninsula) carried out since 1984 until now have allowed the documentation of a rural villa occupied from the 1st century BC to the second half of the 7th century AD. During its extensive and continued occupation, the villa suffered several architectural changes as a result of the different needs in each period. The most important transformation in the organization of the building was during the 6th-7th centuries. The plan, organization and general characteristics of this settlement clearly contrast with the scheme of the villa from the preceding phases. With this paper, we want to analyse if these architectural changes can be linked with economic transformations. The analyses of faunal and seed remains from the different occupations of the villa show that important changes also took place in animal husbandry during the 6th-7th centuries. There was an emphasis on the exploitation of caprines while the archaeobotanical record shows continuity in the management of the fields already observable during the 4th-5th centuries. This shows to some extent the emergence of a different land use connected to animal exploitation after the arrival of the Visigoths to the site. The study and comparison of the available bioarchaeological data from the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula corroborates that there was a general transformation in animal herding practices during the 6th-7th centuries in the region.
In: J.Lopez (ed). La glòria del circ: curses de carros i competicions circenses. In memoriam X... more In: J.Lopez (ed). La glòria del circ: curses de carros i competicions circenses. In memoriam Xavier Dupré i Raventós. Tarraco Biennal. 3r Congrés Internacional d’Arqueologia i Món Antic. Tarragona, 16-19 de novembre de 2016. Tarragona 2017. ISBN. 978-84-697-6930-0
Un hallazgo efectuado en los bajos del Ayuntamiento de Tarragona permitió descubrir los pilares laterales de uno de los carceres del circo de Tarraco. Llamó la atención sin embargo su relativa estrechez (2,5 m de anchura), sobre todo si se comparaba con las medidas del circo de Majencio. Se planteó la duda de si con esa anchura podían encajar en su interior los cuatro caballos de una cuadriga. La respuesta es afirmativa. Con este artículo pretendemos abordar esta cuestión contratando el estudio arquitectónico de los carceres circenses con los estudios osteométricos de caballos romanos.
Ancient written sources show that Roman funerary rituals were relevant along the entire Roman Rep... more Ancient written sources show that Roman funerary rituals were relevant along the entire Roman Republic and Empire, as they ensured the protection of deities and the memory of the deceased. Part of these rituals consisted of funerary offerings and banquets that were held on the day of the burial, in festivities and other stipulated days. The faunal remains recovered inside the graves and around them are evidence of these rituals. Therefore, their study can allow us to know if the funerary meals and rituals developed in the Roman necropolis were special and implied food that differed from everyday dietary habits, according to the importance of these rituals. To test this, we analysed the archaeozoological and anthropological material from the necropolis of Vila de Madrid (Barcelona, Catalonia), which was in use between the first half of the 2 nd century AD and mid 3 rd century AD. The archaeozoological analysis of the faunal remains recovered in the necropolis and inside the graves, as well as carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios results on bone collagen from 50 faunal specimens and 41 humans, suggest that, overall, funerary meals in Vila de Madrid necropolis did not imply different food than that consumed during life. Regarding age, sex, offerings and diet, some differences are observed, suggesting that inequalities present in life could have been also present in the funerary rituals.
In this paper we investigate the presence of the Roman army in the countryside of northeastern Ib... more In this paper we investigate the presence of the Roman army in the countryside of northeastern Iberia through the case study of Can Rubió, an archaeological site dated to the 1st c. BC-1st c. AD 1. The contextualisation of the archaeozoological information obtained from the study of 1,495 faunal remains, together with the structures and other finds from the site (pottery, metal and bone objects), allows us to hypothesise that Can Rubió was a military-logistics centre. Its main function would have been horse and cattle breeding to supply animals for riding, cargo and/or transport for the Roman army stationed in the hinterland of the Graeco-Roman city of Emporion. It would also have produced some goods for its own consumption, including wool, leather, milk and meat. The possible acquisition of portions of caprine and pork meat has also been documented. Thus, this paper provides information of great interest on a subject to which very little attention has been paid to date: the presence of the Roman army in a period in which the occupation and pacification of the area had already been completed.
In recent years, the study of animal husbandry in Roman Spain has undergone a remarkable developm... more In recent years, the study of animal husbandry in Roman Spain has undergone a remarkable development with archaeozoological data from villas and urban centres. Rural settlements, however, have yet to be fully studied and therefore the characteristics and economic importance of animal husbandry in the countryside is not yet completely understood. In this study we analysed the archaeozoological evidence (osteological and dental microwear analyses) from a coastal rural site (the small villa of Tolegassos), a rural mid-mountain site (the settlement of Can Rubió) and an eastern Pyrenean site (the town of Llívia) to shed light on this topic. The archaeozoological data from these three different rural sites indicate that the predominant type of livestock breeding in the countryside corresponded to small or medium-sized properties linked to the surrounding territory that, despite a more or less specialised vocation, practiced a wider diversification of livestock production.
Neira, L. (ed): Mosaicos romanos en su contexto rural: investigación y puesta en valor. L'Erma di Brestchenider. Roma, 2019
El desarrollo de sucesivas campañas de excavación en la villa romana de Fuente Álamo en las últim... more El desarrollo de sucesivas campañas de excavación en la villa romana de Fuente Álamo en las últimas décadas nos ha permitido documentar numerosos aspectos de la cultura material y las diversas fases de ocupación de los habitantes de este yacimiento en diversos momentos cronológicos. Además de la conocida villa monumental del periodo bajoimperial, estas intervenciones han permitido documentar en detalle otras fases de ocupación de este yacimiento durante los periodos altoimperial y tardoantiguo. El análisis integral de la cultura material procedente de una serie de depósitos selectos nos ha permitido desarrollar una discusión cronológica sobre ambos momentos de ocupación en el yacimiento. Conjuntamente a esta discusión inicial, la aplicación de una perspectiva de análisis integral para la cultura material de estos depósitos nos ha permitido caracterizar el tipo de economías domésticas que caracterizaron a cada una de estas fases de ocupación. La aplicación de una perspectiva similar a la de la llamada household archaeology para el estudio de estos contextos nos ha permitido obtener inferencias muy precisas sobre las formas de consumo desarrolladas por los habitantes del yacimiento en cada uno de estos periodos. El análisis de estos patrones de consumo nos ha permitido caracterizar dos comunidades completamente diferenciadas. En el caso de la fase altoimperial nos encontramos un asentamiento inclinado hacia prácticas de consumo conspicuo propias de sectores de las elites locales. El periodo tardoantiguo se distingue por un cambio sustancial en la economía domésticas de la comunidad que habitó el yacimiento en esta fase. Este periodo tardío, caracterizado por la re-ocupación de las instalaciones residenciales de la villa monumental del periodo anterior, presenta patrones económicos propios de comunidades campesinas.
Hommes et Caprinés : de la montagne à la steppe, de la chasse à l'élevage. XXXIXe rencontres internationales d’archéologie et d’histoire d’Antibes, 2019
Archaeological excavations at the settlement of Vilauba (northeast of the Iberian Peninsula) carr... more Archaeological excavations at the settlement of Vilauba (northeast of the Iberian Peninsula) carried out since 1984 until now have allowed the documentation of a rural villa occupied from the 1st century BC to the second half of the 7th century AD. During its extensive and continued occupation, the villa suffered several architectural changes as a result of the different needs in each period. The most important transformation in the organization of the building was during the 6th-7th centuries. The plan, organization and general characteristics of this settlement clearly contrast with the scheme of the villa from the preceding phases. With this paper, we want to analyse if these architectural changes can be linked with economic transformations. The analyses of faunal and seed remains from the different occupations of the villa show that important changes also took place in animal husbandry during the 6th-7th centuries. There was an emphasis on the exploitation of caprines while the archaeobotanical record shows continuity in the management of the fields already observable during the 4th-5th centuries. This shows to some extent the emergence of a different land use connected to animal exploitation after the arrival of the Visigoths to the site. The study and comparison of the available bioarchaeological data from the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula corroborates that there was a general transformation in animal herding practices during the 6th-7th centuries in the region.
This book presents the study on the changes in animal production, distribution and consumption th... more This book presents the study on the changes in animal production, distribution and consumption that took place in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula as a consequence of their incorporation into the Roman Empire. Although this topic has been widely studied internationally on a regional scale, few studies have focused on north-eastern Iberia. The present study thus aims to fill this gap by providing new data and perspectives on the Romanization process in Iberia by means of zooarchaeological evidences.
Faunal remains from six sites occupied between the 5th century BC and 5th century AD are analyzed, and later compared to all available zooarchaeological data from Iberia for the same time period.
The text is in Spanish with summaries of each chapter and conclusions in English.
Trade and circulation of animals and plants in the Mediterranean basin through time: new bioarcha... more Trade and circulation of animals and plants in the Mediterranean basin through time: new bioarchaeological insights Humans have contributed and still participate in the circulation of plant and animal products and species around the world. The consequences of these have sometimes been catastrophic in fragile environments such as in small islands, while in other cases they have contributed to more resilient economies and increased food security. The Mediterranean basin has witnessed processes of animal and plant dispersal as a result of human migrations and trade on multiple occasions during the Holocene. There is a growing archaeobiological dataset that has the potential to yield a good testimony of these processes over time, yet we still have vague ideas of the rhythms of adoption and routes of dispersal of many crops and domestic animals, as well as commensal animals, insects or wild plants. The application of new techniques in combination with archaeobotany and archaeozoology, such as digital image analysis and biomolecular analyses, as well as spacial exploration of archaeobiological data with GIS, is allowing important steps forward in the identification of changes in consumption patterns, use of new plant and animal products as well as tracing the arrival of new landraces or their local development.
Recent studies show that mountainous regions are highly sensitive to human-environment interactio... more Recent studies show that mountainous regions are highly sensitive to human-environment interactions. However, they have traditionally been considered marginal and risky environments, constrained by climatic conditions and their topography. This idea has been used to consider mountains without real cultural values. Different international research projects have shown that their potential for historical knowledge is enormous and that they have a rich heritage. Recent research also shows that pastoralism has played a decisive role in the human shaping of mountain Cultural Landscapes since the Neolithic. Mountain anthropogenic deforestation episodes, related to the creation and maintenance of pastoral grasslands, have been documented from the Middle Neolithic onwards. One of the most important expressions of intensive pastoralism is the development of seasonal transhumance, involving movement of flocks and herders, which is known from the recent past, and have contributed substantially to the shaping of mountain Cultural Landscapes. In this session, long and short-term multidisciplinary approaches focus on the role of pastoralism in the shaping of mountain Cultural Landscapes will be welcomed. Archaeological, historical, zooarchaeological and ethnoarchaeological approaches integrated in interdisciplinary researches will be especially encouraged. Mountain areas are also currently suffering major transformation processes resulting from the decline of traditional activities as a consequence of globalization and loss of identities. At the same time, social demand for landscape is growing as it is an important aspect of the quality of life. In that sense, the session also seeks to think about how mountain Cultural Landscapes have been lived and conceptualized by people and to what extent they are an element of identity construction, in order to develop a much needed social awareness of its cultural values.
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Un hallazgo efectuado en los bajos del Ayuntamiento de Tarragona permitió descubrir los pilares laterales de uno de los carceres del circo de Tarraco. Llamó la atención sin embargo su relativa estrechez (2,5 m de anchura), sobre todo si se comparaba con las medidas del circo de Majencio. Se planteó la duda de si con esa anchura podían encajar en su interior los cuatro caballos de una cuadriga. La respuesta es afirmativa. Con este artículo pretendemos abordar esta cuestión contratando el estudio arquitectónico de los carceres circenses con los estudios osteométricos de caballos romanos.
Un hallazgo efectuado en los bajos del Ayuntamiento de Tarragona permitió descubrir los pilares laterales de uno de los carceres del circo de Tarraco. Llamó la atención sin embargo su relativa estrechez (2,5 m de anchura), sobre todo si se comparaba con las medidas del circo de Majencio. Se planteó la duda de si con esa anchura podían encajar en su interior los cuatro caballos de una cuadriga. La respuesta es afirmativa. Con este artículo pretendemos abordar esta cuestión contratando el estudio arquitectónico de los carceres circenses con los estudios osteométricos de caballos romanos.
Faunal remains from six sites occupied between the 5th century BC and 5th century AD are analyzed, and later compared to all available zooarchaeological data from Iberia for the same time period.
The text is in Spanish with summaries of each chapter and conclusions in English.
Humans have contributed and still participate in the circulation of plant and animal products and species around the world. The consequences of these have sometimes been catastrophic in fragile environments such as in small islands, while in other cases they have contributed to more resilient economies and increased food security. The Mediterranean basin has witnessed processes of animal and plant dispersal as a result of human migrations and trade on multiple occasions during the Holocene. There is a growing archaeobiological dataset that has the potential to yield a good testimony of these processes over time, yet we still have vague ideas of the rhythms of adoption and routes of dispersal of many crops and domestic animals, as well as commensal animals, insects or wild plants. The application of new techniques in combination with archaeobotany and archaeozoology, such as digital image analysis and biomolecular analyses, as well as spacial exploration of archaeobiological data with GIS, is allowing important steps forward in the identification of changes in consumption patterns, use of new plant and animal products as well as tracing the arrival of new landraces or their local development.