Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before th... more Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before the fifteenth century AD, indeed even Roman cattle were not very different from preceding Iron Age ones. The Roman province of Lusitania com- prised the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula (present-day central and southern Portugal and Spanish Extremad- ura). Here we present some evidence of cattle size increase in the newly founded Lusitanian Roman cities, that is, those with no previous occupation. These cities include, for example, Emerita Augusta (Mérida, Spain) and ancient Ammaia (near Marvão, Portugal). We compare their measurements with those from smaller Roman towns and sites from other periods. Our hypothesis is that the size increase reflects better nourishment or the presence of different cattle morpho- types (by selection or introduction of new animals). Osteometric analyses suggest that cattle from the main Roman cities were generally bigger in Roman newly founded cities, contrary to sites with pre-Roman occupation. Innovations could have been implemented via the import of new stock and/or new breeding strategies.
Inheritable traits of cattle were modified in various ways at different times by diverse cultures... more Inheritable traits of cattle were modified in various ways at different times by diverse cultures. A large collection of seventeenth century cattle remains excavated from 71 silos in the Largo do Coreto in Carnide, Lisbon, included 47 com- plete and 44 distal ends of metacarpals. These provide an opportunity to make a detailed osteometric and archaeogenetics study. While morphological changes such as size increase, as detected in bone measurements, indicate improvement for larger animals, ancient DNA is useful for studying evolutionary trajectories and modes of improvement of domestic animals. High-throughput sequencing can show evolutionary processes at unprecedented resolution. We generated whole-genome shotgun resequencing data for 6 Carnide specimens on the Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. Mean en- dogenous DNA content for these samples varied between 1% (CAR008) and 4% (CAR014), and their mitogenomes were sequenced to between 3.56x and 33.44x mean depth of coverage, respectively. The Carnide cattle belong to the Europe- an-T3 (CAR002 and CAR021) and African-T1 haplogroups (CAR008, CAR009, CAR014, and CAR016). These haplogroups are also present in extant native breeds from the Iberian Peninsula, corroborating the hypothesis of a genetic continuity of maternal lineages over time. The admixture of African taurine cattle observed in these specimens from the Modern period supports the idea that current genetic diversity of Iberian cattle derives from the dispersal of a heterogeneous population since early times along the Mediterranean basin. In addition, the biological sex of the Carnide specimens was consistently determined by our genomic analysis and osteometric measurements. Further analyses of whole-genome nuclear data are needed to infer specific biological properties, for example, the coat color of these animals, as well as the variability of genes linked to body size, meat, and milk production traits.
Zooarchaeological studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle body siz... more Zooarchaeological studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle body size in southern Portugal before the 15th century AD. Subsequent analysis of several animal bone assemblages from cities of the Roman province Lusitânia (south-western part of the Iberian Peninsula) showed increase in cattle size during Roman times. These cities include present-day Mérida (Emerita Augusta), ancient Ammaia (both founded in the 1st century BC) and Lisbon (Olissipo). This last was a very important urban centre in Roman times, but its occupation began much earlier, in the Palaeolithic. Here we consider measurements of cattle bones recovered from excavations in these Roman cities and compare them with results from smaller towns and from other previous and subsequent periods. The measurements of cattle bones reveal some signs of size increase (and subsequently improvement) during the Roman occupation, which are more apparent in the newly founded Roman cities. Preliminary results of ancient DNA studies indicate a continuity through time of maternal lineages, supporting the hypothesis of local improvement. Forthcoming genomic analyses should provide more detailed information on the introduction of new breeding stock and modes of improvement.Peer reviewe
Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general... more Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general size increase across Europe, and many urban sites display higher cattle frequency remains compared to previous and later periods. The reasons for this size increase remains unknown: was it the result of the import of new lineages, related to wider mobility and trade networks? Or a consequence of selection and improvement of local stock using new breeding strategies? Or both? While morphological changes such as size increase, as detected in bone measurements, indicate improvement for larger animals, ancient DNA enables tracking changes in genomic diversity associated with mobility and animal selection traits. We aim to understand whether the Roman state enhanced cattle genetic diversity in the Western periphery using genomics. We generated whole-genome shotgun resequencing data (Illumina HiSeqX) to analyze around 100 cattle remains dating from the Roman period collected at archaeological sites in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Here we present and discuss the preliminary results of our analysis. For example, cattle mitochondrial DNA is geographically structured and it is, therefore, possible to associate maternal lineages to specific regions. Mitochondrial genome coverages for these specimens were between 1x and 100x, which allowed to determine the distribution of major haplogroups. Endogenous DNA content ranged between 0.5% and 50%. We will briefly discuss nuclear whole-genome data and their use to model genomic variation over time and investigate genetic relationships between past and extant cattle from these regions.Peer reviewe
Arqueologia em Portugal 2020 - Estado da Questão - Textos
We present the results obtained from the analysis of unpublished faunal remains from the Bronze A... more We present the results obtained from the analysis of unpublished faunal remains from the Bronze Age settlement of Outeiro do Circo (Beja). The materials provenance is diverse, corresponding mainly to one pit/ silo from trench 3 and the areas near the defensive systems designated trench 7 and 8. Hunting strategies are complementary in the assemblage, with a predominance of sheep and goat remains, followed by cattle and swine. Kill-off patterns with the presence of young and adult individuals are suggestive of a mixed economy with the exploitation of primary and secondary resources. Although highly fragmented and affected by postdepositional processes it was possible to record several anthropization indicators related to the butchering process and thermo-alteration of remains by fire
A escavação do Largo do Coreto em Carnide (2012) identificou diversos silos no interior dos quais... more A escavação do Largo do Coreto em Carnide (2012) identificou diversos silos no interior dos quais foram recuperados diversos elementos da cultura material, datados entre os finais do século XVI e meados do século XVII. A cerâmica comum, destinada à preparação e consumo de alimentos, é certamente o tipo mais abundante com diversos tipos recipientes. Panelas, tachos, frigideiras, cuscuzeiras, assadores, entre outros, demonstram que a preparação de alimentos passava por diferentes processos de confecção. O cruzamento das informações obtidas através das formas cerâmicas, combinadas com os vestígios faunísticos e os diversos livros de cozinha da época permitem inferir sobre que tipo de alimentos estariam à mesa dos habitantes de Carnide na Idade Moderna. The excavation of the Largo do Coreto in Carnide (2012) permitted the identification of several storage pits. Inside these silos several material culture elements were recovered, dated from late 16th to mid 17th century. Redwares, the mo...
Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before th... more Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before the fifteenth century AD, indeed even Roman cattle were not very different from preceding Iron Age ones. The Roman province of Lusitania com- prised the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula (present-day central and southern Portugal and Spanish Extremad- ura). Here we present some evidence of cattle size increase in the newly founded Lusitanian Roman cities, that is, those with no previous occupation. These cities include, for example, Emerita Augusta (Mérida, Spain) and ancient Ammaia (near Marvão, Portugal). We compare their measurements with those from smaller Roman towns and sites from other periods. Our hypothesis is that the size increase reflects better nourishment or the presence of different cattle morpho- types (by selection or introduction of new animals). Osteometric analyses suggest that cattle from the main Roman cities were generally bigger in Roman newly founded cities, contrary to sites with pre-Roman occupation. Innovations could have been implemented via the import of new stock and/or new breeding strategies.
This paper presents the facial reconstruction of a Mesolithic dog whose skeleton was recovered fr... more This paper presents the facial reconstruction of a Mesolithic dog whose skeleton was recovered from the Muge shell middens (Portugal) in the 19th century. We used the anatomical deformation approach based on a collection of computer tomography images as an attempt to reconstruct the Muge dog’s head appearance. We faced a few challenges due to the level of bone displacement and the absence of some cranium anatomical parts, as well as accurate information on soft tissue thickness for modern dogs. This multidisciplinary study combined anatomical, veterinary, zooarchaeological, artistic and graphic aspects to allow for the facial reconstruction of the Muge dog. Albeit an approximation, it confers a recognition to this prehistoric finding.
Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general... more Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general size increase across Europe, and many urban sites display higher cattle frequency remains compared to previous and later periods. The reasons for this size increase remains unknown: was it the result of the import of new lineages, related to wider mobility and trade networks? Or a consequence of selection and improvement of local stock using new breeding strategies? Or both? While morphological changes such as size increase, as detected in bone measurements, indicate improvement for larger animals, ancient DNA enables tracking changes in genomic diversity associated with mobility and animal selection traits. We aim to understand whether the Roman state enhanced cattle genetic diversity in the Western periphery using genomics. We generated whole-genome shotgun resequencing data (Illumina HiSeqX) to analyze around 100 cattle remains dating from the Roman period collected at archaeological sites in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Here we present and discuss the preliminary results of our analysis. For example, cattle mitochondrial DNA is geographically structured and it is, therefore, possible to associate maternal lineages to specific regions. Mitochondrial genome coverages for these specimens were between 1x and 100x, which allowed to determine the distribution of major haplogroups. Endogenous DNA content ranged between 0.5% and 50%. We will briefly discuss nuclear whole-genome data and their use to model genomic variation over time and investigate genetic relationships between past and extant cattle from these regions.Peer reviewe
Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before th... more Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before the fifteenth century AD, indeed even Roman cattle were not very different from preceding Iron Age ones. The Roman province of Lusitania com- prised the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula (present-day central and southern Portugal and Spanish Extremad- ura). Here we present some evidence of cattle size increase in the newly founded Lusitanian Roman cities, that is, those with no previous occupation. These cities include, for example, Emerita Augusta (Mérida, Spain) and ancient Ammaia (near Marvão, Portugal). We compare their measurements with those from smaller Roman towns and sites from other periods. Our hypothesis is that the size increase reflects better nourishment or the presence of different cattle morpho- types (by selection or introduction of new animals). Osteometric analyses suggest that cattle from the main Roman cities were generally bigger in Roman newly founded cities, contrary to sites with pre-Roman occupation. Innovations could have been implemented via the import of new stock and/or new breeding strategies.
Inheritable traits of cattle were modified in various ways at different times by diverse cultures... more Inheritable traits of cattle were modified in various ways at different times by diverse cultures. A large collection of seventeenth century cattle remains excavated from 71 silos in the Largo do Coreto in Carnide, Lisbon, included 47 com- plete and 44 distal ends of metacarpals. These provide an opportunity to make a detailed osteometric and archaeogenetics study. While morphological changes such as size increase, as detected in bone measurements, indicate improvement for larger animals, ancient DNA is useful for studying evolutionary trajectories and modes of improvement of domestic animals. High-throughput sequencing can show evolutionary processes at unprecedented resolution. We generated whole-genome shotgun resequencing data for 6 Carnide specimens on the Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. Mean en- dogenous DNA content for these samples varied between 1% (CAR008) and 4% (CAR014), and their mitogenomes were sequenced to between 3.56x and 33.44x mean depth of coverage, respectively. The Carnide cattle belong to the Europe- an-T3 (CAR002 and CAR021) and African-T1 haplogroups (CAR008, CAR009, CAR014, and CAR016). These haplogroups are also present in extant native breeds from the Iberian Peninsula, corroborating the hypothesis of a genetic continuity of maternal lineages over time. The admixture of African taurine cattle observed in these specimens from the Modern period supports the idea that current genetic diversity of Iberian cattle derives from the dispersal of a heterogeneous population since early times along the Mediterranean basin. In addition, the biological sex of the Carnide specimens was consistently determined by our genomic analysis and osteometric measurements. Further analyses of whole-genome nuclear data are needed to infer specific biological properties, for example, the coat color of these animals, as well as the variability of genes linked to body size, meat, and milk production traits.
Zooarchaeological studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle body siz... more Zooarchaeological studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle body size in southern Portugal before the 15th century AD. Subsequent analysis of several animal bone assemblages from cities of the Roman province Lusitânia (south-western part of the Iberian Peninsula) showed increase in cattle size during Roman times. These cities include present-day Mérida (Emerita Augusta), ancient Ammaia (both founded in the 1st century BC) and Lisbon (Olissipo). This last was a very important urban centre in Roman times, but its occupation began much earlier, in the Palaeolithic. Here we consider measurements of cattle bones recovered from excavations in these Roman cities and compare them with results from smaller towns and from other previous and subsequent periods. The measurements of cattle bones reveal some signs of size increase (and subsequently improvement) during the Roman occupation, which are more apparent in the newly founded Roman cities. Preliminary results of ancient DNA studies indicate a continuity through time of maternal lineages, supporting the hypothesis of local improvement. Forthcoming genomic analyses should provide more detailed information on the introduction of new breeding stock and modes of improvement.Peer reviewe
Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general... more Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general size increase across Europe, and many urban sites display higher cattle frequency remains compared to previous and later periods. The reasons for this size increase remains unknown: was it the result of the import of new lineages, related to wider mobility and trade networks? Or a consequence of selection and improvement of local stock using new breeding strategies? Or both? While morphological changes such as size increase, as detected in bone measurements, indicate improvement for larger animals, ancient DNA enables tracking changes in genomic diversity associated with mobility and animal selection traits. We aim to understand whether the Roman state enhanced cattle genetic diversity in the Western periphery using genomics. We generated whole-genome shotgun resequencing data (Illumina HiSeqX) to analyze around 100 cattle remains dating from the Roman period collected at archaeological sites in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Here we present and discuss the preliminary results of our analysis. For example, cattle mitochondrial DNA is geographically structured and it is, therefore, possible to associate maternal lineages to specific regions. Mitochondrial genome coverages for these specimens were between 1x and 100x, which allowed to determine the distribution of major haplogroups. Endogenous DNA content ranged between 0.5% and 50%. We will briefly discuss nuclear whole-genome data and their use to model genomic variation over time and investigate genetic relationships between past and extant cattle from these regions.Peer reviewe
Arqueologia em Portugal 2020 - Estado da Questão - Textos
We present the results obtained from the analysis of unpublished faunal remains from the Bronze A... more We present the results obtained from the analysis of unpublished faunal remains from the Bronze Age settlement of Outeiro do Circo (Beja). The materials provenance is diverse, corresponding mainly to one pit/ silo from trench 3 and the areas near the defensive systems designated trench 7 and 8. Hunting strategies are complementary in the assemblage, with a predominance of sheep and goat remains, followed by cattle and swine. Kill-off patterns with the presence of young and adult individuals are suggestive of a mixed economy with the exploitation of primary and secondary resources. Although highly fragmented and affected by postdepositional processes it was possible to record several anthropization indicators related to the butchering process and thermo-alteration of remains by fire
A escavação do Largo do Coreto em Carnide (2012) identificou diversos silos no interior dos quais... more A escavação do Largo do Coreto em Carnide (2012) identificou diversos silos no interior dos quais foram recuperados diversos elementos da cultura material, datados entre os finais do século XVI e meados do século XVII. A cerâmica comum, destinada à preparação e consumo de alimentos, é certamente o tipo mais abundante com diversos tipos recipientes. Panelas, tachos, frigideiras, cuscuzeiras, assadores, entre outros, demonstram que a preparação de alimentos passava por diferentes processos de confecção. O cruzamento das informações obtidas através das formas cerâmicas, combinadas com os vestígios faunísticos e os diversos livros de cozinha da época permitem inferir sobre que tipo de alimentos estariam à mesa dos habitantes de Carnide na Idade Moderna. The excavation of the Largo do Coreto in Carnide (2012) permitted the identification of several storage pits. Inside these silos several material culture elements were recovered, dated from late 16th to mid 17th century. Redwares, the mo...
Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before th... more Studies undertaken several years ago indicated little change in cattle size in Portugal before the fifteenth century AD, indeed even Roman cattle were not very different from preceding Iron Age ones. The Roman province of Lusitania com- prised the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula (present-day central and southern Portugal and Spanish Extremad- ura). Here we present some evidence of cattle size increase in the newly founded Lusitanian Roman cities, that is, those with no previous occupation. These cities include, for example, Emerita Augusta (Mérida, Spain) and ancient Ammaia (near Marvão, Portugal). We compare their measurements with those from smaller Roman towns and sites from other periods. Our hypothesis is that the size increase reflects better nourishment or the presence of different cattle morpho- types (by selection or introduction of new animals). Osteometric analyses suggest that cattle from the main Roman cities were generally bigger in Roman newly founded cities, contrary to sites with pre-Roman occupation. Innovations could have been implemented via the import of new stock and/or new breeding strategies.
This paper presents the facial reconstruction of a Mesolithic dog whose skeleton was recovered fr... more This paper presents the facial reconstruction of a Mesolithic dog whose skeleton was recovered from the Muge shell middens (Portugal) in the 19th century. We used the anatomical deformation approach based on a collection of computer tomography images as an attempt to reconstruct the Muge dog’s head appearance. We faced a few challenges due to the level of bone displacement and the absence of some cranium anatomical parts, as well as accurate information on soft tissue thickness for modern dogs. This multidisciplinary study combined anatomical, veterinary, zooarchaeological, artistic and graphic aspects to allow for the facial reconstruction of the Muge dog. Albeit an approximation, it confers a recognition to this prehistoric finding.
Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general... more Cattle played a major role in the Roman economy. The zooarchaeological record indicates a general size increase across Europe, and many urban sites display higher cattle frequency remains compared to previous and later periods. The reasons for this size increase remains unknown: was it the result of the import of new lineages, related to wider mobility and trade networks? Or a consequence of selection and improvement of local stock using new breeding strategies? Or both? While morphological changes such as size increase, as detected in bone measurements, indicate improvement for larger animals, ancient DNA enables tracking changes in genomic diversity associated with mobility and animal selection traits. We aim to understand whether the Roman state enhanced cattle genetic diversity in the Western periphery using genomics. We generated whole-genome shotgun resequencing data (Illumina HiSeqX) to analyze around 100 cattle remains dating from the Roman period collected at archaeological sites in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Here we present and discuss the preliminary results of our analysis. For example, cattle mitochondrial DNA is geographically structured and it is, therefore, possible to associate maternal lineages to specific regions. Mitochondrial genome coverages for these specimens were between 1x and 100x, which allowed to determine the distribution of major haplogroups. Endogenous DNA content ranged between 0.5% and 50%. We will briefly discuss nuclear whole-genome data and their use to model genomic variation over time and investigate genetic relationships between past and extant cattle from these regions.Peer reviewe
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