The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe... more The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe. The site is located in Óbidos, at about one kilometre north of the Medieval village, in the top of the Penedo das Gralhas hill near the chapel dedicated to Santo Antão. The material recovered during the archaeological works revealed a human occupation dated from the Middle Chalcolithic with parallels with layer 2 of Leceia, Castro da Fórnea, Castro do Zambujal, Pedra do Ouro and Outeiro da Assenta. The small faunal assemblage, despite being small and not very well preserved, allowed the identification of wide diversification of mammals – such as equids, cattle, cervids, ovicaprines, carnivores, leporids, and suids –, as well as chelonians and fish. A small invertebrate assemblage was also collected with predominance of oyster shells. Considering the total of 80 studies related to archaeological assemblages dated from the Chalcolithic from the Portuguese Estremadura,and the scarce faunal analyses within this framework, the results of Alto de Santo Antão are an invaluable contribution to the available research from this chronology.
The surveys and excavations works carried out in the Algarve region (south of Portugal), has resu... more The surveys and excavations works carried out in the Algarve region (south of Portugal), has resulted in the discovery of several archaeological sites from the Early and Middle Neolithic. However, throughout the Portuguese territory research has so far been mainly directed to the study of Neolithic communities in transition periods, which explains the lack of knowledge concerning the Middle Neolithic. Nevertheless, some researchers have begun to direct their attention to the study of the middle Neolithic communities. In the recent years it has emerged an advance in this field, although in the Algarve the advance is slowest. To this factor it is also added the difficulty in associating artefactual assemblage to settlement structures, which therefore has influenced in a higher registration of funerary contexts, than habitat contexts, dispersed along the coast and the Barrocal region, contrary to what occurs in the Early Neolithic. For this period were recorded mainly habitat contexts, which are concentrated in the western region of Algarve, being the funerary contexts quite scarce. Thus, this study aims to present the current state of the investigation of human occupation in the Early and Middle Neolithic, in southern Portugal, more precisely in the Algarve region, and their respective spatial distribution, in order to create an hypotheses about the spatial organization of these communities. K.W.: Early Neolithic; Middle Neolithic; Algarve; Geographical Distribution; Human Occupation
At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, i... more At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, in Bombarral municipality, was identified the fortified settlement of Castro Columbeira in the early twentieth century, corresponding to an occupation of the Middle Chalcolithic. The lithic assemblage comes from excavations directed by João Ludgero Gonçalves, between 1992 and 1999, collected from the layers 1 and 2. In a still preliminary analysis, is evident the clear choice for chipped stone, where the flint is the predominant raw material. In this lithic assemblage, was also identified a small sample of polished stone, well preserved, wherein the amphibolite is the principal raw material.
Dissertacao de mestrado, Arqueologia, Faculdade de Ciencias Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Al... more Dissertacao de mestrado, Arqueologia, Faculdade de Ciencias Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 2015
The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a lon... more The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. A preliminary study on its fauna was published by Valente (1998) based on the 1992–1994 material, but the 1997–2000 campaigns remained unstudied. The aim of this study is to present the full fauna analysis of the layer Db, dated from the earlier phases of that period. Like other assemblages from the same time frame in the area, the fauna collection understudy is small. Its bones showed several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical abundances, most remains were classified as rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus). A few specimens of cervid, fox (Vulpes vulpes) and bird were also identified. The other fauna assemblages from the region show either the prevalence of the caprine component (a...
Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwa... more Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwards, ‘Castro da Columbeira’ still offers unpublished information on the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura. Belonging to a group of local archaeological sites that benefited from the impulse of amateur archaeology, it is considered a central element in the heritage policy of the municipality of Bombarral. A project was drawn to turn the site into a museum and simultaneously protocols have allowed young researchers at the Department of Archaeology in the University of Algarve have been allowed access to archaeological materials. The prelimi-nary data concerning both the lithic assemblage and the faunal remains studies are presented. (pp. 29-32)
The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe... more The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe. The site is located in Óbidos, at about one kilometre north of the Medieval village, in the top of the Penedo das Gralhas hill near the chapel dedicated to Santo Antão. The material recovered during the archaeological works revealed a human occupation dated from the Middle Chalcolithic with parallels with layer 2 of Leceia, Castro da Fórnea, Castro do Zambujal, Pedra do Ouro and Outeiro da Assenta. The small faunal assemblage, despite being small and not very well preserved, allowed the identification of wide diversification of mammals – such as equids, cattle, cervids, ovicaprines, carnivores, leporids, and suids –, as well as chelonians and fish. A small invertebrate assemblage was also collected with predominance of oyster shells. Considering the total of 80 studies related to archaeological assemblages dated from the Chalcolithic from the Portuguese Estremadura,and the scarce faunal analyses within this framework, the results of Alto de Santo Antão are an invaluable contribution to the available research from this chronology.
At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, i... more At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, in Bombarral municipality, was identified the fortified settlement of Castro Columbeira in the early twentieth century, corresponding to an occupation of the Middle Chalcolithic. The lithic assemblage comes from excavations directed by João Ludgero Gonçalves, between 1992 and 1999, collected from the layers 1 and 2. In a still preliminary analysis, is evident the clear choice for chipped stone, where the flint is the predominant raw material. In this lithic assemblage, was also identified a small sample of polished stone, well preserved, wherein the amphibolite is the principal raw material.
The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a lon... more The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. A preliminary study on its fauna was published by Valente (1998) based on the 1992–1994 material, but the 1997–2000 campaigns remained unstudied. The aim of this study is to present the full fauna analysis of the layer Db, dated from the earlier phases of that period. Like other assemblages from the same time frame in the area, the fauna collection understudy is small. Its bones showed several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical abundances, most remains were classified as rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus). A few specimens of cervid, fox (Vulpes vulpes) and bird were also identified. The other fauna assemblages from the region show either the prevalence of the caprine component (as in Pena d’Água) or a higher abundance of cervids. This trend may reflect a specialized animal exploitation and we propose that the Middle Neolithic human communities in the Limestone Massif had a subsistence strategy based on caprine exploration, supplemented by some cervid (red deer) hunting. These hunter-herders groups were probably highly mobile and may have practiced some kind of transhumance (or itinerant pastoralism), for which the details are still unknown.
Análise Zooarqueológica do Material Proveniente da Sondagem 4 do Sítio da Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim, Portugal)
Resumo:
O sítio de Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) localiza-se numa suave elevação virada para... more Resumo:
O sítio de Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) localiza-se numa suave elevação virada para a Ribeira das Choças, um afluente do Guadiana. Os estudos já feitos para o local revelaram que este se trata de um sítio romano datado entre os séculos I e IV d.C.
Na análise zooarqueológica foram identificados Bos taurus (boi/vaca), Ovis aries (ovelha) e/ou Capra hircus (cabra), Cervus elaphus (veado), Sus sp. (porco e/ou javali) e Ostrea edulis (ostra), uma espécie costeira, revelando a possibilidade de trocas comerciais com o litoral.
Abstract:
The site of Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) is located in a smooth hill facing the Ribeira das Choças, a tributary of the river Guadiana. Studies already made for the site revealed that this is a Roman site dated between the first and fourth century A.D.
During the fauna analysis we have identified Bos Taurus (ox/cow), Ovis aries (sheep) and/or Capra hircus (goat), Cervus elaphus (deer), Sus sp. (pig and/or boar) and Ostrea edulis (oyster), a coastal specie, revealing the possibility of a commercial activity with the coast.
""Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992-2000, revealing a
long... more ""Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992-2000, revealing a
long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. The aim of
this study is to present a zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal remains exhumed during the
excavation of so-called layer Db, attributable to an initial phase of the Middle Neolithic.
A preliminary analysis was published by M.J. Valente (1998) based on the 1992-1994
material; the 1997-2000 campaigns remained unstudied. Here we present a global analysis of
the animal exploitation patterns during the Middle Neolithic at the site. It should be notice
that bones present several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure
to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical collection: so far only rabbit
(Oryctolagus cunniculus), cervids and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus) have been
identified.
An open question is to know whether Pena d’Água is representative of all Middle Neolithic
habitation sites in which hunting and sheep/goat herding are prevalent, or if this rock-shelter
is a satellite of permanent settlements where other strategies of animal exploitation (e.g.
including cattle and suids) may have occurred.""
"During the excavation carried out in the 90s in Quinta do Almaraz (by the Tagus River mouth, in ... more "During the excavation carried out in the 90s in Quinta do Almaraz (by the Tagus River mouth, in the municipality of Almada in Portugal) several dog burials were found, dating from the 8th century B.C., when the Iron Age Phoenician occupation took place.
By analyzing the bones, we found a minimum of 13 individuals (MNI). According to the pathologies and archaeological remains, they had various functions in Phoenician society. During the analysis we came across a clear absence of skulls, complete and/or partial. We found that there were no signs of cutting in the bones connected with the skull. This leaves to the conclusion that skulls had been removed when there weren’t soft tissue (e.g. when the dog was in the skeletonization stage), revealing that there may have been a ritual during the burial and removal of skulls.
Of the entire collection only two individuals (CF13 and CF14) were buried in the same context. In this case, the fact that they are two individuals of partial skeletons in same square at the same layer, and the fact that both dogs have the same age suggests the possibility of a double burial.
"
This dissertation presents the main results of the study of faunal remains collected in Castro da... more This dissertation presents the main results of the study of faunal remains collected in Castro da Columbeira (Bombarral). The main goal of the study was to recognize animal resource exploitation strategies in the site, based on the species represented and how they would be managed as food and non-food resources, including secondary products. This data was also analyzed at a regional scale. In Castro da Columbeira a significant variety of animals species was identified, where domestic animals are better represented than the wildlife. Caprids and swine emerge as the domestic species most prevalent, while cattle appears significantly less represented. At a local scale the results of this research revealed that the inhabitants of Castro da Columbeira practiced an agro-pastoral economy complemented with hunting activity. At a regional scale this study gives strength to the predominance of domestic species, especially caprids and swine, as the main exploitation strategy of animal resources in the settlements of Estremadura. However, the hunting activity would have had more impact on the exploration strategy in Castro da Columbeira than in the settlements located in Lower Estremadura. It was also observed that the exploration strategy of animal resources practiced by human communities was possibly different between the settlements of the Lower Estremadura and the settlements of the Upper and Middle Estremadura.
One of the very important, but still not sufficiently known aspects of the Chalcolithic economy i... more One of the very important, but still not sufficiently known aspects of the Chalcolithic economy in the Portuguese Estremadura, is the osseous industry (made from bone, antler, teeth and mollusc shell). This aspect leads to many open questions to be answer, such as reconstructing the chaîne opératoire and identifying workshops, since manufacturing debris often stay unrecognized during field excavations and later during laboratory analysis. In a Pleistocene valley, the Roto Valley, in the municipality of Bombarral, is located the Chalcolithic settlement of Columbeira. It features two belts of reinforced walls with towers. The central fortification of quadrangular format, features circular towers, semi-circular bastions and have an entry turn to the southeast. Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwards, Castro da Columbeira still offers unpublished information on the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura. The study of the bone industry from the Castro da Columbeira, which is dated to the Middle Chalcolithic (without Bell Beaker; 3950±30 cal. B.P.) and its results will be presented. The results obtained from this analysis, along with the comparison with contemporaneous sites from the Portuguese Estremadura will give us a better understanding of this archaeological site, providing a possible existence of a workshop in the site, as well as contributing to a better characterization of the Chalcolithic in the Portuguese Estremadura.
The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe... more The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe. The site is located in Óbidos, at about one kilometre north of the Medieval village, in the top of the Penedo das Gralhas hill near the chapel dedicated to Santo Antão. The material recovered during the archaeological works revealed a human occupation dated from the Middle Chalcolithic with parallels with layer 2 of Leceia, Castro da Fórnea, Castro do Zambujal, Pedra do Ouro and Outeiro da Assenta. The small faunal assemblage, despite being small and not very well preserved, allowed the identification of wide diversification of mammals – such as equids, cattle, cervids, ovicaprines, carnivores, leporids, and suids –, as well as chelonians and fish. A small invertebrate assemblage was also collected with predominance of oyster shells. Considering the total of 80 studies related to archaeological assemblages dated from the Chalcolithic from the Portuguese Estremadura,and the scarce faunal analyses within this framework, the results of Alto de Santo Antão are an invaluable contribution to the available research from this chronology.
The surveys and excavations works carried out in the Algarve region (south of Portugal), has resu... more The surveys and excavations works carried out in the Algarve region (south of Portugal), has resulted in the discovery of several archaeological sites from the Early and Middle Neolithic. However, throughout the Portuguese territory research has so far been mainly directed to the study of Neolithic communities in transition periods, which explains the lack of knowledge concerning the Middle Neolithic. Nevertheless, some researchers have begun to direct their attention to the study of the middle Neolithic communities. In the recent years it has emerged an advance in this field, although in the Algarve the advance is slowest. To this factor it is also added the difficulty in associating artefactual assemblage to settlement structures, which therefore has influenced in a higher registration of funerary contexts, than habitat contexts, dispersed along the coast and the Barrocal region, contrary to what occurs in the Early Neolithic. For this period were recorded mainly habitat contexts, which are concentrated in the western region of Algarve, being the funerary contexts quite scarce. Thus, this study aims to present the current state of the investigation of human occupation in the Early and Middle Neolithic, in southern Portugal, more precisely in the Algarve region, and their respective spatial distribution, in order to create an hypotheses about the spatial organization of these communities. K.W.: Early Neolithic; Middle Neolithic; Algarve; Geographical Distribution; Human Occupation
At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, i... more At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, in Bombarral municipality, was identified the fortified settlement of Castro Columbeira in the early twentieth century, corresponding to an occupation of the Middle Chalcolithic. The lithic assemblage comes from excavations directed by João Ludgero Gonçalves, between 1992 and 1999, collected from the layers 1 and 2. In a still preliminary analysis, is evident the clear choice for chipped stone, where the flint is the predominant raw material. In this lithic assemblage, was also identified a small sample of polished stone, well preserved, wherein the amphibolite is the principal raw material.
Dissertacao de mestrado, Arqueologia, Faculdade de Ciencias Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Al... more Dissertacao de mestrado, Arqueologia, Faculdade de Ciencias Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 2015
The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a lon... more The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. A preliminary study on its fauna was published by Valente (1998) based on the 1992–1994 material, but the 1997–2000 campaigns remained unstudied. The aim of this study is to present the full fauna analysis of the layer Db, dated from the earlier phases of that period. Like other assemblages from the same time frame in the area, the fauna collection understudy is small. Its bones showed several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical abundances, most remains were classified as rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus). A few specimens of cervid, fox (Vulpes vulpes) and bird were also identified. The other fauna assemblages from the region show either the prevalence of the caprine component (a...
Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwa... more Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwards, ‘Castro da Columbeira’ still offers unpublished information on the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura. Belonging to a group of local archaeological sites that benefited from the impulse of amateur archaeology, it is considered a central element in the heritage policy of the municipality of Bombarral. A project was drawn to turn the site into a museum and simultaneously protocols have allowed young researchers at the Department of Archaeology in the University of Algarve have been allowed access to archaeological materials. The prelimi-nary data concerning both the lithic assemblage and the faunal remains studies are presented. (pp. 29-32)
The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe... more The site of Alto de Santo Antão was found and excavated during the building works of a water pipe. The site is located in Óbidos, at about one kilometre north of the Medieval village, in the top of the Penedo das Gralhas hill near the chapel dedicated to Santo Antão. The material recovered during the archaeological works revealed a human occupation dated from the Middle Chalcolithic with parallels with layer 2 of Leceia, Castro da Fórnea, Castro do Zambujal, Pedra do Ouro and Outeiro da Assenta. The small faunal assemblage, despite being small and not very well preserved, allowed the identification of wide diversification of mammals – such as equids, cattle, cervids, ovicaprines, carnivores, leporids, and suids –, as well as chelonians and fish. A small invertebrate assemblage was also collected with predominance of oyster shells. Considering the total of 80 studies related to archaeological assemblages dated from the Chalcolithic from the Portuguese Estremadura,and the scarce faunal analyses within this framework, the results of Alto de Santo Antão are an invaluable contribution to the available research from this chronology.
At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, i... more At 15 km from the coast, in southern typhonic valley of Caldas das Rainhas and Lagoa de Óbidos, in Bombarral municipality, was identified the fortified settlement of Castro Columbeira in the early twentieth century, corresponding to an occupation of the Middle Chalcolithic. The lithic assemblage comes from excavations directed by João Ludgero Gonçalves, between 1992 and 1999, collected from the layers 1 and 2. In a still preliminary analysis, is evident the clear choice for chipped stone, where the flint is the predominant raw material. In this lithic assemblage, was also identified a small sample of polished stone, well preserved, wherein the amphibolite is the principal raw material.
The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a lon... more The Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992–2000, revealing a long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. A preliminary study on its fauna was published by Valente (1998) based on the 1992–1994 material, but the 1997–2000 campaigns remained unstudied. The aim of this study is to present the full fauna analysis of the layer Db, dated from the earlier phases of that period. Like other assemblages from the same time frame in the area, the fauna collection understudy is small. Its bones showed several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical abundances, most remains were classified as rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus). A few specimens of cervid, fox (Vulpes vulpes) and bird were also identified. The other fauna assemblages from the region show either the prevalence of the caprine component (as in Pena d’Água) or a higher abundance of cervids. This trend may reflect a specialized animal exploitation and we propose that the Middle Neolithic human communities in the Limestone Massif had a subsistence strategy based on caprine exploration, supplemented by some cervid (red deer) hunting. These hunter-herders groups were probably highly mobile and may have practiced some kind of transhumance (or itinerant pastoralism), for which the details are still unknown.
Análise Zooarqueológica do Material Proveniente da Sondagem 4 do Sítio da Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim, Portugal)
Resumo:
O sítio de Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) localiza-se numa suave elevação virada para... more Resumo:
O sítio de Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) localiza-se numa suave elevação virada para a Ribeira das Choças, um afluente do Guadiana. Os estudos já feitos para o local revelaram que este se trata de um sítio romano datado entre os séculos I e IV d.C.
Na análise zooarqueológica foram identificados Bos taurus (boi/vaca), Ovis aries (ovelha) e/ou Capra hircus (cabra), Cervus elaphus (veado), Sus sp. (porco e/ou javali) e Ostrea edulis (ostra), uma espécie costeira, revelando a possibilidade de trocas comerciais com o litoral.
Abstract:
The site of Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) is located in a smooth hill facing the Ribeira das Choças, a tributary of the river Guadiana. Studies already made for the site revealed that this is a Roman site dated between the first and fourth century A.D.
During the fauna analysis we have identified Bos Taurus (ox/cow), Ovis aries (sheep) and/or Capra hircus (goat), Cervus elaphus (deer), Sus sp. (pig and/or boar) and Ostrea edulis (oyster), a coastal specie, revealing the possibility of a commercial activity with the coast.
""Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992-2000, revealing a
long... more ""Pena d’Água Rock-shelter (Torres Novas, Portugal) was excavated in 1992-2000, revealing a
long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. The aim of
this study is to present a zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal remains exhumed during the
excavation of so-called layer Db, attributable to an initial phase of the Middle Neolithic.
A preliminary analysis was published by M.J. Valente (1998) based on the 1992-1994
material; the 1997-2000 campaigns remained unstudied. Here we present a global analysis of
the animal exploitation patterns during the Middle Neolithic at the site. It should be notice
that bones present several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure
to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical collection: so far only rabbit
(Oryctolagus cunniculus), cervids and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus) have been
identified.
An open question is to know whether Pena d’Água is representative of all Middle Neolithic
habitation sites in which hunting and sheep/goat herding are prevalent, or if this rock-shelter
is a satellite of permanent settlements where other strategies of animal exploitation (e.g.
including cattle and suids) may have occurred.""
"During the excavation carried out in the 90s in Quinta do Almaraz (by the Tagus River mouth, in ... more "During the excavation carried out in the 90s in Quinta do Almaraz (by the Tagus River mouth, in the municipality of Almada in Portugal) several dog burials were found, dating from the 8th century B.C., when the Iron Age Phoenician occupation took place.
By analyzing the bones, we found a minimum of 13 individuals (MNI). According to the pathologies and archaeological remains, they had various functions in Phoenician society. During the analysis we came across a clear absence of skulls, complete and/or partial. We found that there were no signs of cutting in the bones connected with the skull. This leaves to the conclusion that skulls had been removed when there weren’t soft tissue (e.g. when the dog was in the skeletonization stage), revealing that there may have been a ritual during the burial and removal of skulls.
Of the entire collection only two individuals (CF13 and CF14) were buried in the same context. In this case, the fact that they are two individuals of partial skeletons in same square at the same layer, and the fact that both dogs have the same age suggests the possibility of a double burial.
"
This dissertation presents the main results of the study of faunal remains collected in Castro da... more This dissertation presents the main results of the study of faunal remains collected in Castro da Columbeira (Bombarral). The main goal of the study was to recognize animal resource exploitation strategies in the site, based on the species represented and how they would be managed as food and non-food resources, including secondary products. This data was also analyzed at a regional scale. In Castro da Columbeira a significant variety of animals species was identified, where domestic animals are better represented than the wildlife. Caprids and swine emerge as the domestic species most prevalent, while cattle appears significantly less represented. At a local scale the results of this research revealed that the inhabitants of Castro da Columbeira practiced an agro-pastoral economy complemented with hunting activity. At a regional scale this study gives strength to the predominance of domestic species, especially caprids and swine, as the main exploitation strategy of animal resources in the settlements of Estremadura. However, the hunting activity would have had more impact on the exploration strategy in Castro da Columbeira than in the settlements located in Lower Estremadura. It was also observed that the exploration strategy of animal resources practiced by human communities was possibly different between the settlements of the Lower Estremadura and the settlements of the Upper and Middle Estremadura.
One of the very important, but still not sufficiently known aspects of the Chalcolithic economy i... more One of the very important, but still not sufficiently known aspects of the Chalcolithic economy in the Portuguese Estremadura, is the osseous industry (made from bone, antler, teeth and mollusc shell). This aspect leads to many open questions to be answer, such as reconstructing the chaîne opératoire and identifying workshops, since manufacturing debris often stay unrecognized during field excavations and later during laboratory analysis. In a Pleistocene valley, the Roto Valley, in the municipality of Bombarral, is located the Chalcolithic settlement of Columbeira. It features two belts of reinforced walls with towers. The central fortification of quadrangular format, features circular towers, semi-circular bastions and have an entry turn to the southeast. Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwards, Castro da Columbeira still offers unpublished information on the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura. The study of the bone industry from the Castro da Columbeira, which is dated to the Middle Chalcolithic (without Bell Beaker; 3950±30 cal. B.P.) and its results will be presented. The results obtained from this analysis, along with the comparison with contemporaneous sites from the Portuguese Estremadura will give us a better understanding of this archaeological site, providing a possible existence of a workshop in the site, as well as contributing to a better characterization of the Chalcolithic in the Portuguese Estremadura.
In this paper we aim to present the zooarchaeological study of the Middle Chalcolithic occupation... more In this paper we aim to present the zooarchaeological study of the Middle Chalcolithic occupation at Castro da Columbeira (without bell-beaker culture; 3950±30 cal. B.P), a fortified site located in the middle Portuguese Estremadura. The fauna materials were recovered in layer 2, during the field seasons of 1992-1999, directed by João Ludgero Gonçalves. The faunal analyses (NISP 1100+) allowed the identification of a significant variety of animal species, where domestic animals are better represented than the wild ones. Caprines (sheep and/or goat) and swine emerge as the prevalent species, while cattle is significantly less represented. Other important animals are red deer and rabbit. A few carnivores, equids, fishes, birds and mollusks have also been identified. At a local scale, the results of this research reveal that the inhabitants of Castro da Columbeira practiced an agro-pastoral economy complemented by hunting activities. Mollusk gathering and fishing seem to have provided limited food resources. At a regional scale, this study reinforces herding, especially of sheep/goat and swine, as the main exploitation strategy of animals in the Portuguese Estremadura. However, hunting activities would have more impact in the subsistence strategies at Castro da Columbeira than in the settlements located in lower region of Estremadura, such as Leceia, Penedo Lexim and Zambujal.
To the South of the typhonic valley of Caldas da Rainha, in the municipality of Bombarral, is loc... more To the South of the typhonic valley of Caldas da Rainha, in the municipality of Bombarral, is located the settlement of Columbeira corresponding to a Middle Chalcolithic (without Bell Beaker) chronology. The settlement was discovered by José Leite de Vasconcellos in the beginning of the XXth Century, having fallen into oblivion until 1963. In the same year, the archeological site was rediscovered by Jorge de Almeida Monteiro, Abel Viana and Octávio da Veiga Ferreira, a team that would be responsible for the first archeological intervention on the site. Later on, between the years 1992 and 1997, João Ludgero Gonçalves was the director of a series of archeological campaigns, from which derives the archaeological materials here presented. ‘Castro Columbeira’ revealed a significant variety of faunal resources, lithics and ceramics that were considered in the present study, being its preliminary results now presented as well as the definition of the first interpretive hypotheses on the local strategies of economic exploitation followed by the possibility of a regional network of settlements. Taking into account the scarce amount of current studies on this settlement and the surrounding area, it becomes essential to do further investigation on the site in order to clarify its role in the Chalcolithic Estremadura.
II Congresso Internacional sobre Arqueologia de Transição: O Mundo Funerário. Évora 2013, Apr 29, 2013
O ser humano tem vindo a enterrar ou dispor-se ritualmente de cães desde há muito tempo, por veze... more O ser humano tem vindo a enterrar ou dispor-se ritualmente de cães desde há muito tempo, por vezes eles tratam outros animais da mesma forma, mas não tanto como o cão, isso deve-se ao facto de o ser humano e o cão possuírem uma afinidade especial, que é demonstrada pelo número de raças que existem hoje e da importância do papel do cão na actividade humana. Os registos arqueológicos revelam-nos que esta relação começou há muito tempo, quando grupos de caçadores-recolectores domesticaram o lobo, por volta de há 15.000 anos (Morey, 2006).
Durante as escavações levadas a cabo na década de 90’s na Quinta do Almaraz (junto do Rio Tejo, no município de Almada) foram encontrados vários enterramentos de cães, que sucederam na Idade do Ferro, durante a ocupação fenícia da Quinta do Almaraz, a partir do século VIII a.C..
Através da análise aos ossos, descobrimos que estamos perante 13 indivíduos (NMI), de acordo com as patologias e os vestígios arqueológicos, teriam várias funções na sociedade fenícia. Durante a análise deparámo-nos com uma clara ausência dos crânios, total e/ou parcial. Constatámos que não havia sinais de corte nos ossos que faria conexão com o crânio, concluindo que os crânios não foram removidos quando existiriam partes moles e tecido conjuntivo. Resta assim a alternativa dos crânios terem sido removidos quando já não havia tecidos moles, ou seja, quando o cão se encontrava em fase de esqueletonização, revelando-nos que poderá ter havido um ritual aquando do enterramento e remoção dos crânios.
Em toda a colecção apenas os indivíduos CF13 e CF14 se encontravam enterrados no mesmo contexto. Neste caso, o facto de se encontrarem esqueletos parciais de dois indivíduos no mesmo quadrado, na mesma camada, e o facto de ambos os cães terem a mesma idade, sugere-nos a hipótese de um duplo enterramento.
In 2012 a major fire has occurred in the parish of Cachopo, belonging to the municipality of Tavi... more In 2012 a major fire has occurred in the parish of Cachopo, belonging to the municipality of Tavira (Portugal), which devastated an area of great proportions. The present study aims to create a predictive mapping of potential areas with archaeological remains, using ArcGis, and the same maps can be used as a base for future prospecting studies in the parish of Cachopo. We performed the elaboration of the Archaeological Predictive Chart conjugation the interpretation of the toponymys, hydrographic network and the archaeological sites that have been identified in the region. As we cross all the information gather, we have determined and define two types of zones: zones with main interest and zones with secondary interest. These zones have a major interest to prospect because of various factors, such as, archaeological remains, toponymys and hydrography, all favorable to the human presence.
Em 2012 ocorreu um grande incêndio a norte de Tavira, devastando cerca 20.000 ha, aproximadamente entre 15 a 20 km, da zona oriente da Serra do Caldeirão. Um dos factores importantes aquando da prospecção é a visibilidade do solo. Uma área que sofreu um incêndio irá proporcionar-nos uma melhor visibilidade do terreno. Devido a esse factor decidimos realizar uma Carta Preditiva da área ardida da freguesia do Cachopo. Para procedermos à realização da carta preditiva, tivemos que ler as Cartas Militares Portuguesas nos 581, 589 e 590 à escala 1:25.000. Para além disso, também utilizámos a toponímia como fonte para esta investigação arqueológica. Um outro factor importante para a realização de uma carta preditiva é o conhecimento da rede hidrográfica da área e a sua importância para as comunidades humanas. Com base na obra "Levantamento da Carta Arqueológica de Cachopo" (Maia, 2000) e do Endovélico, conseguimos recolher informação sobre os sítios arqueológicos já identificados e a sua localização na área. Utilizámos também a ferramenta do ArcGis para a realização de vários mapas com a localização dos sítios e as possíveis áreas a prospectar com base na toponímia, rede hidrográfica e sítios arqueológicos já registados. Através da interpretação da toponímia, rede hidrográfica e sítios arqueológicos já identificados, pretendemos com este trabalho determinar as possíveis áreas com potencial arqueológico para numa futura fase se prospectar.
O Mundo Animal na Romanização da Penísula Ibérica 2015 -Lisboa
A presente contribuição tem como objecto a apresentação e o estudo dos restos de fauna vertebrada... more A presente contribuição tem como objecto a apresentação e o estudo dos restos de fauna vertebrada (mamíferos e aves) de vários sítios arqueológicos datados do período Romano na região do Algarve.
Os restos faunísticos dos vários sítios arqueológicos fornecem-nos, sobretudo, dados relevantes sobre a dieta alimentar no período Romano e o tipo de actividade económica e sociocultural que se praticava em cada sítio. No presente estudo também iremos interpretar os dados numa escala mais abrangente, na região do Algarve.
Verifica-se, através dos vários estudos zooarqueológicos, que a dieta alimentar era constituída, na sua maioria, por mamíferos, sobretudo, mamíferos domésticos (caprinos, gado bovino e porco). Quanto às espécies caçadas, foi documentada principalmente a presença de veado, javali e coelho-bravo. As aves teriam também o seu papel na dieta, sendo de longe mais abundante a presença da galinha-doméstica e da perdiz nas colecções faunísticas.
Observou-se ainda a presença de espécies exóticas em alguns sítios arqueológicos da região do Algarve, nomeadamente, o abutre-fouveiro e o dromedário (resultando na segunda ocorrência desta espécie no território português, sendo que a primeira surgiu em Conimbriga).
The surveys and excavations works carried out in the Algarve region (south of Portugal), has resu... more The surveys and excavations works carried out in the Algarve region (south of Portugal), has resulted in the discovery of several archaeological sites from the Early and Middle Neolithic. However, throughout the Portuguese territory research has so far been mainly directed to the study of Neolithic communities in transition periods, which explains the lack of knowledge concerning the Middle Neolithic. Nevertheless, some researchers have begun to direct their attention to the study of the middle Neolithic communities. In the recent years it has emerged an advance in this field, although in the Algarve the advance is slowest. To this factor it is also added the difficulty in associating artefactual assemblage to settlement structures, which therefore has influenced in a higher registration of funerary contexts, than habitat contexts, dispersed along the coast and the Barrocal region, contrary to what occurs in the Early Neolithic. For this period were recorded mainly habitat contexts, which are concentrated in the western region of Algarve, being the funerary contexts quite scarce. Thus, this study aims to present the current state of the investigation of human occupation in the Early and Middle Neolithic, in southern Portugal, more precisely in the Algarve region, and their respective spatial distribution, in order to create an hypotheses about the spatial organization of these communities.
K.W.: Early Neolithic; Middle Neolithic; Algarve; Geographical Distribution; Human Occupation
Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwa... more Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwards, ‘Castro da Columbeira’ still offers unpublished information on the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura. Belonging to a group of local archaeological sites that benefited from the impulse of amateur archaeology, it is considered a central element in the heritage policy of the municipality of Bombarral. A project was drawn to turn the site into a museum and simultaneously protocols have allowed young researchers at the Department of Archaeology in the University of Algarve have been allowed access to archaeological materials. The prelimi-nary data concerning both the lithic assemblage and the faunal remains studies are presented.
No mês de Dezembro de 2016 iniciou-se o acompanhamento arqueológico de dois lotes (n.º 19 e n.º 2... more No mês de Dezembro de 2016 iniciou-se o acompanhamento arqueológico de dois lotes (n.º 19 e n.º 21) na Travessa do Alportel, em Faro. As obras levadas a cabo tiveram como propósito a demolição das estruturas presentes, nomeadamente duas casas, presumivelmente do século XIX, compostas por taipa tradicional e paredes de pedra e caliço, para posteriormente construir duas novas moradias. Apesar das casas serem antigas, nada fazia prever o que se viria a encontrar.
No decorrer do acompanhamento arqueológico fora exumado um conjunto numismático excecional e em ótimo estado de conservação, possivelmente o conjunto de maior valor numérico do seu período exumado na cidade de Faro. O referido conjunto foi descoberto, mais precisamente, debaixo do chão do lote n.º 21, a um profundidade de 8 cm, não estando albergado dentro de nenhum recipiente.
O "Tesouro" é composto por 111 peças, que abrangem os reinados de D. João V, D. José, D. Maria I e D. Pedro III, D. Maria I, D. João VI, D. Pedro IV e D. Miguel.
Não há dúvidas de que o presente "Tesouro" foi escondido todo na mesma altura, presumivelmente nos anos 30 do século XIX, curiosamente na mesma altura em que Portugal passava por uma Guerra Civil entre Liberalistas e Miguelistas.
Palavras-Chave: Arqueologia; Numismática; Cidade de Faro; Tesouro; Guerra Civil Portuguesa
Humans have been burying or ritually disposing dead
dogs for a long time, sometimes they treat ot... more Humans have been burying or ritually disposing dead dogs for a long time, sometimes they treat other animals in similar ways, but not so often as dogs. That’s because human and dogs have a unique relationship, which is 1 Universidade do Algarve NAP – Núcleo de Arqueologia e Paleoecologia *franciscomrcorreia@gmail.com demonstrated by the number of breeds that exist today and the important role that dogs have in human society. The archaeological records show us that this relationship began long ago, when groups of hunter-gatherers domesticated the wolf (around 15.000 years ago). During the excavation carried out in the 90s in Quinta do Almaraz (by the Tagus River, in the municipality of Almada) several dog burials were found, dating from the 8th century B.C., when the Iron Age Phoenician occupation took place. Several skeletons of dog are practically completed, suggesting that these animals have unique histories and acknowledging them as distinct “beings with soul”. These mortuary rites can only be compared to those of their human counterparts. Four of the burials have a minimum of two dogs, suggesting the possibility that maybe we are present with four cases of double burial. Of the entire collection only two individuals (CF13 and CF14) were buried in the same context. In this case, the fact that they are two individuals of partial skeletons in same square at the same layer, and the fact that both dogs have the same age suggests the possibility of a double burial. By analyzing the bones, we have determinate that the collection contain a total of 1413 (NTR) fauna remains, but only 957 belong to canis familiaris, corresponding to a minimum of 13 individuals (MNI). According to the pathologies and archaeological remains, they had various functions in Phoenician society. During the analysis we came across a clear absence of skulls, complete and/or partial. We found that there were no signs of cutting in the bones connected with the skull. This leaves to the conclusion that skulls had been removed when there weren’t soft tissue (e.g. when the dog was in the skeletonization stage), revealing that there may have been a ritual during the burial and removal of skulls. Osteological studies of dogs often focus on issues of taxonomy and as a result little is known about these animals’ life histories. This work will be focus on analyzing the dogs’ remains, and their associated fauna remains. Based on this analysis with the correlation of the data uncover by analyzing the pathology, discovered in some dog bones, we suggested that this dogs were more than companion and guard dogs, in fact they maybe have had a more important role in the Phoenician society. We think that these dogs may have help humans in hunting, pastoralism, and even maybe in fishing. Keywords: Dog Burials; Iron Age; Phoenician; Quinta do Almaraz
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one kilometre north of the Medieval village, in the top of the Penedo das Gralhas hill near the chapel dedicated to Santo Antão.
The material recovered during the archaeological works revealed a human occupation dated from the Middle Chalcolithic with parallels
with layer 2 of Leceia, Castro da Fórnea, Castro do Zambujal, Pedra do Ouro and Outeiro da Assenta. The small faunal assemblage, despite
being small and not very well preserved, allowed the identification of wide diversification of mammals – such as equids, cattle, cervids,
ovicaprines, carnivores, leporids, and suids –, as well as chelonians and fish. A small invertebrate assemblage was also collected with
predominance of oyster shells.
Considering the total of 80 studies related to archaeological assemblages dated from the Chalcolithic from the Portuguese Estremadura,and the scarce faunal analyses within this framework, the results of Alto de Santo Antão are an invaluable contribution to the available research from this chronology.
fortified settlement of Castro Columbeira in the early twentieth century, corresponding to an occupation of the Middle Chalcolithic.
The lithic assemblage comes from excavations directed by João Ludgero Gonçalves, between 1992 and 1999, collected from the layers 1 and 2. In
a still preliminary analysis, is evident the clear choice for chipped stone, where the flint is the predominant raw material. In this lithic assemblage,
was also identified a small sample of polished stone, well preserved, wherein the amphibolite is the principal raw material.
Like other assemblages from the same time frame in the area, the fauna collection understudy is small. Its bones showed several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical abundances, most remains were classified as rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus). A few specimens of cervid, fox (Vulpes vulpes) and bird were also identified.
The other fauna assemblages from the region show either the prevalence of the caprine component (as in Pena d’Água) or a higher abundance of cervids. This trend may reflect a specialized animal exploitation and we propose that the Middle Neolithic human communities in the Limestone Massif had a subsistence strategy based on caprine exploration, supplemented by some cervid (red deer) hunting. These hunter-herders groups were probably highly mobile and may have practiced some kind of transhumance (or itinerant pastoralism), for which the details are still unknown.
O sítio de Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) localiza-se numa suave elevação virada para a Ribeira das Choças, um afluente do Guadiana. Os estudos já feitos para o local revelaram que este se trata de um sítio romano datado entre os séculos I e IV d.C.
Na análise zooarqueológica foram identificados Bos taurus (boi/vaca), Ovis aries (ovelha) e/ou Capra hircus (cabra), Cervus elaphus (veado), Sus sp. (porco e/ou javali) e Ostrea edulis (ostra), uma espécie costeira, revelando a possibilidade de trocas comerciais com o litoral.
Abstract:
The site of Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) is located in a smooth hill facing the Ribeira das Choças, a tributary of the river Guadiana. Studies already made for the site revealed that this is a Roman site dated between the first and fourth century A.D.
During the fauna analysis we have identified Bos Taurus (ox/cow), Ovis aries (sheep) and/or Capra hircus (goat), Cervus elaphus (deer), Sus sp. (pig and/or boar) and Ostrea edulis (oyster), a coastal specie, revealing the possibility of a commercial activity with the coast.
long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. The aim of
this study is to present a zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal remains exhumed during the
excavation of so-called layer Db, attributable to an initial phase of the Middle Neolithic.
A preliminary analysis was published by M.J. Valente (1998) based on the 1992-1994
material; the 1997-2000 campaigns remained unstudied. Here we present a global analysis of
the animal exploitation patterns during the Middle Neolithic at the site. It should be notice
that bones present several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure
to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical collection: so far only rabbit
(Oryctolagus cunniculus), cervids and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus) have been
identified.
An open question is to know whether Pena d’Água is representative of all Middle Neolithic
habitation sites in which hunting and sheep/goat herding are prevalent, or if this rock-shelter
is a satellite of permanent settlements where other strategies of animal exploitation (e.g.
including cattle and suids) may have occurred.""
By analyzing the bones, we found a minimum of 13 individuals (MNI). According to the pathologies and archaeological remains, they had various functions in Phoenician society. During the analysis we came across a clear absence of skulls, complete and/or partial. We found that there were no signs of cutting in the bones connected with the skull. This leaves to the conclusion that skulls had been removed when there weren’t soft tissue (e.g. when the dog was in the skeletonization stage), revealing that there may have been a ritual during the burial and removal of skulls.
Of the entire collection only two individuals (CF13 and CF14) were buried in the same context. In this case, the fact that they are two individuals of partial skeletons in same square at the same layer, and the fact that both dogs have the same age suggests the possibility of a double burial.
"
In Castro da Columbeira a significant variety of animals species was identified, where domestic animals are better represented than the wildlife. Caprids and swine emerge as the domestic species most prevalent, while cattle appears significantly less represented.
At a local scale the results of this research revealed that the inhabitants of Castro da Columbeira practiced an agro-pastoral economy complemented with hunting activity.
At a regional scale this study gives strength to the predominance of domestic species, especially caprids and swine, as the main exploitation strategy of animal resources in the settlements of Estremadura. However, the hunting activity would have had more impact on the exploration strategy in Castro da Columbeira than in the settlements located in Lower Estremadura. It was also observed that the exploration strategy of animal resources practiced by human communities was possibly different between the settlements of the Lower Estremadura and the settlements of the Upper and Middle Estremadura.
Key words: Portuguese Estremadura, Zooarchaeology, Chalcolithic, Castro da Columbeira, Agro-Pastoral Economy.
In a Pleistocene valley, the Roto Valley, in the municipality of Bombarral, is located the Chalcolithic settlement of Columbeira. It features two belts of reinforced walls with towers. The central fortification of quadrangular format, features circular towers, semi-circular bastions and have an entry turn to the southeast.
Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwards, Castro da Columbeira still offers unpublished information on the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura.
The study of the bone industry from the Castro da Columbeira, which is dated to the Middle Chalcolithic (without Bell Beaker; 3950±30 cal. B.P.) and its results will be presented.
The results obtained from this analysis, along with the comparison with contemporaneous sites from the Portuguese Estremadura will give us a better understanding of this archaeological site, providing a possible existence of a workshop in the site, as well as contributing to a better characterization of the Chalcolithic in the Portuguese Estremadura.
one kilometre north of the Medieval village, in the top of the Penedo das Gralhas hill near the chapel dedicated to Santo Antão.
The material recovered during the archaeological works revealed a human occupation dated from the Middle Chalcolithic with parallels
with layer 2 of Leceia, Castro da Fórnea, Castro do Zambujal, Pedra do Ouro and Outeiro da Assenta. The small faunal assemblage, despite
being small and not very well preserved, allowed the identification of wide diversification of mammals – such as equids, cattle, cervids,
ovicaprines, carnivores, leporids, and suids –, as well as chelonians and fish. A small invertebrate assemblage was also collected with
predominance of oyster shells.
Considering the total of 80 studies related to archaeological assemblages dated from the Chalcolithic from the Portuguese Estremadura,and the scarce faunal analyses within this framework, the results of Alto de Santo Antão are an invaluable contribution to the available research from this chronology.
fortified settlement of Castro Columbeira in the early twentieth century, corresponding to an occupation of the Middle Chalcolithic.
The lithic assemblage comes from excavations directed by João Ludgero Gonçalves, between 1992 and 1999, collected from the layers 1 and 2. In
a still preliminary analysis, is evident the clear choice for chipped stone, where the flint is the predominant raw material. In this lithic assemblage,
was also identified a small sample of polished stone, well preserved, wherein the amphibolite is the principal raw material.
Like other assemblages from the same time frame in the area, the fauna collection understudy is small. Its bones showed several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical abundances, most remains were classified as rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus). A few specimens of cervid, fox (Vulpes vulpes) and bird were also identified.
The other fauna assemblages from the region show either the prevalence of the caprine component (as in Pena d’Água) or a higher abundance of cervids. This trend may reflect a specialized animal exploitation and we propose that the Middle Neolithic human communities in the Limestone Massif had a subsistence strategy based on caprine exploration, supplemented by some cervid (red deer) hunting. These hunter-herders groups were probably highly mobile and may have practiced some kind of transhumance (or itinerant pastoralism), for which the details are still unknown.
O sítio de Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) localiza-se numa suave elevação virada para a Ribeira das Choças, um afluente do Guadiana. Os estudos já feitos para o local revelaram que este se trata de um sítio romano datado entre os séculos I e IV d.C.
Na análise zooarqueológica foram identificados Bos taurus (boi/vaca), Ovis aries (ovelha) e/ou Capra hircus (cabra), Cervus elaphus (veado), Sus sp. (porco e/ou javali) e Ostrea edulis (ostra), uma espécie costeira, revelando a possibilidade de trocas comerciais com o litoral.
Abstract:
The site of Alcaria das Choças (Castro Marim) is located in a smooth hill facing the Ribeira das Choças, a tributary of the river Guadiana. Studies already made for the site revealed that this is a Roman site dated between the first and fourth century A.D.
During the fauna analysis we have identified Bos Taurus (ox/cow), Ovis aries (sheep) and/or Capra hircus (goat), Cervus elaphus (deer), Sus sp. (pig and/or boar) and Ostrea edulis (oyster), a coastal specie, revealing the possibility of a commercial activity with the coast.
long stratigraphic and cultural sequence including Middle Neolithic occupations. The aim of
this study is to present a zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal remains exhumed during the
excavation of so-called layer Db, attributable to an initial phase of the Middle Neolithic.
A preliminary analysis was published by M.J. Valente (1998) based on the 1992-1994
material; the 1997-2000 campaigns remained unstudied. Here we present a global analysis of
the animal exploitation patterns during the Middle Neolithic at the site. It should be notice
that bones present several surface and chemical alterations due to sediment pressure, exposure
to fire and water percolation. Regarding the taxonomical collection: so far only rabbit
(Oryctolagus cunniculus), cervids and sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus) have been
identified.
An open question is to know whether Pena d’Água is representative of all Middle Neolithic
habitation sites in which hunting and sheep/goat herding are prevalent, or if this rock-shelter
is a satellite of permanent settlements where other strategies of animal exploitation (e.g.
including cattle and suids) may have occurred.""
By analyzing the bones, we found a minimum of 13 individuals (MNI). According to the pathologies and archaeological remains, they had various functions in Phoenician society. During the analysis we came across a clear absence of skulls, complete and/or partial. We found that there were no signs of cutting in the bones connected with the skull. This leaves to the conclusion that skulls had been removed when there weren’t soft tissue (e.g. when the dog was in the skeletonization stage), revealing that there may have been a ritual during the burial and removal of skulls.
Of the entire collection only two individuals (CF13 and CF14) were buried in the same context. In this case, the fact that they are two individuals of partial skeletons in same square at the same layer, and the fact that both dogs have the same age suggests the possibility of a double burial.
"
In Castro da Columbeira a significant variety of animals species was identified, where domestic animals are better represented than the wildlife. Caprids and swine emerge as the domestic species most prevalent, while cattle appears significantly less represented.
At a local scale the results of this research revealed that the inhabitants of Castro da Columbeira practiced an agro-pastoral economy complemented with hunting activity.
At a regional scale this study gives strength to the predominance of domestic species, especially caprids and swine, as the main exploitation strategy of animal resources in the settlements of Estremadura. However, the hunting activity would have had more impact on the exploration strategy in Castro da Columbeira than in the settlements located in Lower Estremadura. It was also observed that the exploration strategy of animal resources practiced by human communities was possibly different between the settlements of the Lower Estremadura and the settlements of the Upper and Middle Estremadura.
Key words: Portuguese Estremadura, Zooarchaeology, Chalcolithic, Castro da Columbeira, Agro-Pastoral Economy.
In a Pleistocene valley, the Roto Valley, in the municipality of Bombarral, is located the Chalcolithic settlement of Columbeira. It features two belts of reinforced walls with towers. The central fortification of quadrangular format, features circular towers, semi-circular bastions and have an entry turn to the southeast.
Discovered in the beginning of the XXth century and intensively explored almost a century afterwards, Castro da Columbeira still offers unpublished information on the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura.
The study of the bone industry from the Castro da Columbeira, which is dated to the Middle Chalcolithic (without Bell Beaker; 3950±30 cal. B.P.) and its results will be presented.
The results obtained from this analysis, along with the comparison with contemporaneous sites from the Portuguese Estremadura will give us a better understanding of this archaeological site, providing a possible existence of a workshop in the site, as well as contributing to a better characterization of the Chalcolithic in the Portuguese Estremadura.
The faunal analyses (NISP 1100+) allowed the identification of a significant variety of animal species, where domestic animals are better represented than the wild ones. Caprines (sheep and/or goat) and swine emerge as the prevalent species, while cattle is significantly less represented. Other important animals are red deer and rabbit. A few carnivores, equids, fishes, birds and mollusks have also been identified.
At a local scale, the results of this research reveal that the inhabitants of Castro da Columbeira practiced an agro-pastoral economy complemented by hunting activities. Mollusk gathering and fishing seem to have provided limited food resources. At a regional scale, this study reinforces herding, especially of sheep/goat and swine, as the main exploitation strategy of animals in the Portuguese Estremadura. However, hunting activities would have more impact in the subsistence strategies at Castro da Columbeira than in the settlements located in lower region of Estremadura, such as Leceia, Penedo Lexim and Zambujal.
The settlement was discovered by José Leite de Vasconcellos in the beginning of the XXth Century, having fallen into oblivion until 1963. In the same year, the archeological site was rediscovered by Jorge de Almeida Monteiro, Abel Viana and Octávio da Veiga Ferreira, a team that would be responsible for the first archeological intervention on the site. Later on, between the years 1992 and 1997, João Ludgero Gonçalves was the director of a series of archeological campaigns, from which derives the archaeological materials here presented.
‘Castro Columbeira’ revealed a significant variety of faunal resources, lithics and ceramics that were considered in the present study, being its preliminary results now presented as well as the definition of the first interpretive hypotheses on the local strategies of economic exploitation followed by the possibility of a regional network of settlements.
Taking into account the scarce amount of current studies on this settlement and the surrounding area, it becomes essential to do further investigation on the site in order to clarify its role in the Chalcolithic Estremadura.
Durante as escavações levadas a cabo na década de 90’s na Quinta do Almaraz (junto do Rio Tejo, no município de Almada) foram encontrados vários enterramentos de cães, que sucederam na Idade do Ferro, durante a ocupação fenícia da Quinta do Almaraz, a partir do século VIII a.C..
Através da análise aos ossos, descobrimos que estamos perante 13 indivíduos (NMI), de acordo com as patologias e os vestígios arqueológicos, teriam várias funções na sociedade fenícia. Durante a análise deparámo-nos com uma clara ausência dos crânios, total e/ou parcial. Constatámos que não havia sinais de corte nos ossos que faria conexão com o crânio, concluindo que os crânios não foram removidos quando existiriam partes moles e tecido conjuntivo. Resta assim a alternativa dos crânios terem sido removidos quando já não havia tecidos moles, ou seja, quando o cão se encontrava em fase de esqueletonização, revelando-nos que poderá ter havido um ritual aquando do enterramento e remoção dos crânios.
Em toda a colecção apenas os indivíduos CF13 e CF14 se encontravam enterrados no mesmo contexto. Neste caso, o facto de se encontrarem esqueletos parciais de dois indivíduos no mesmo quadrado, na mesma camada, e o facto de ambos os cães terem a mesma idade, sugere-nos a hipótese de um duplo enterramento.
The present study aims to create a predictive mapping of potential areas with archaeological remains, using ArcGis, and the same maps can be used as a base for future prospecting studies in the parish of Cachopo.
We performed the elaboration of the Archaeological Predictive Chart conjugation the interpretation of the toponymys, hydrographic network and the archaeological sites that have been identified in the region.
As we cross all the information gather, we have determined and define two types of zones: zones with main interest and zones with secondary interest. These zones have a major interest to prospect because of various factors, such as, archaeological remains, toponymys and hydrography, all favorable to the human presence.
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Em 2012 ocorreu um grande incêndio a norte de Tavira, devastando cerca 20.000 ha, aproximadamente entre 15 a 20 km, da zona oriente da Serra do Caldeirão.
Um dos factores importantes aquando da prospecção é a visibilidade do solo. Uma área que sofreu um incêndio irá proporcionar-nos uma melhor visibilidade do terreno. Devido a esse factor decidimos realizar uma Carta Preditiva da área ardida da freguesia do Cachopo.
Para procedermos à realização da carta preditiva, tivemos que ler as Cartas Militares Portuguesas nos 581, 589 e 590 à escala 1:25.000. Para além disso, também utilizámos a toponímia como fonte para esta investigação arqueológica. Um outro factor importante para a realização de uma carta preditiva é o conhecimento da rede hidrográfica da área e a sua importância para as comunidades humanas.
Com base na obra "Levantamento da Carta Arqueológica de Cachopo" (Maia, 2000) e do Endovélico, conseguimos recolher informação sobre os sítios arqueológicos já identificados e a sua localização na área. Utilizámos também a ferramenta do ArcGis para a realização de vários mapas com a localização dos sítios e as possíveis áreas a prospectar com base na toponímia, rede hidrográfica e sítios arqueológicos já registados.
Através da interpretação da toponímia, rede hidrográfica e sítios arqueológicos já identificados, pretendemos com este trabalho determinar as possíveis áreas com potencial arqueológico para numa futura fase se prospectar.
Os restos faunísticos dos vários sítios arqueológicos fornecem-nos, sobretudo, dados relevantes sobre a dieta alimentar no período Romano e o tipo de actividade económica e sociocultural que se praticava em cada sítio. No presente estudo também iremos interpretar os dados numa escala mais abrangente, na região do Algarve.
Verifica-se, através dos vários estudos zooarqueológicos, que a dieta alimentar era constituída, na sua maioria, por mamíferos, sobretudo, mamíferos domésticos (caprinos, gado bovino e porco). Quanto às espécies caçadas, foi documentada principalmente a presença de veado, javali e coelho-bravo. As aves teriam também o seu papel na dieta, sendo de longe mais abundante a presença da galinha-doméstica e da perdiz nas colecções faunísticas.
Observou-se ainda a presença de espécies exóticas em alguns sítios arqueológicos da região do Algarve, nomeadamente, o abutre-fouveiro e o dromedário (resultando na segunda ocorrência desta espécie no território português, sendo que a primeira surgiu em Conimbriga).
However, throughout the Portuguese territory research has so far been mainly directed to the study of Neolithic communities in transition periods, which explains the lack of knowledge concerning the Middle Neolithic. Nevertheless, some researchers have begun to direct their attention to the study of the middle Neolithic communities. In the recent years it has emerged an advance in this field, although in the Algarve the advance is slowest.
To this factor it is also added the difficulty in associating artefactual assemblage to settlement structures, which therefore has influenced in a higher registration of funerary contexts, than habitat contexts, dispersed along the coast and the Barrocal region, contrary to what occurs in the Early Neolithic. For this period were recorded mainly habitat contexts, which are concentrated in the western region of Algarve, being the funerary contexts quite scarce.
Thus, this study aims to present the current state of the investigation of human occupation in the Early and Middle Neolithic, in southern Portugal, more precisely in the Algarve region, and their respective spatial distribution, in order to create an hypotheses about the spatial organization of these communities.
K.W.: Early Neolithic; Middle Neolithic; Algarve; Geographical Distribution; Human Occupation
(pp. 29-32)
No decorrer do acompanhamento arqueológico fora exumado um conjunto numismático excecional e em ótimo estado de conservação, possivelmente o conjunto de maior valor numérico do seu período exumado na cidade de Faro. O referido conjunto foi descoberto, mais precisamente, debaixo do chão do lote n.º 21, a um profundidade de 8 cm, não estando albergado dentro de nenhum recipiente.
O "Tesouro" é composto por 111 peças, que abrangem os reinados de D. João V, D. José, D. Maria I e D. Pedro III, D. Maria I, D. João VI, D. Pedro IV e D. Miguel.
Não há dúvidas de que o presente "Tesouro" foi escondido todo na mesma altura, presumivelmente nos anos 30 do século XIX, curiosamente na mesma altura em que Portugal passava por uma Guerra Civil entre Liberalistas e Miguelistas.
Palavras-Chave: Arqueologia; Numismática; Cidade de Faro; Tesouro; Guerra Civil Portuguesa
dogs for a long time, sometimes they treat other animals
in similar ways, but not so often as dogs. That’s because
human and dogs have a unique relationship, which is
1 Universidade do Algarve
NAP – Núcleo de Arqueologia e Paleoecologia
*franciscomrcorreia@gmail.com
demonstrated by the number of breeds that exist today
and the important role that dogs have in human society.
The archaeological records show us that this relationship
began long ago, when groups of hunter-gatherers
domesticated the wolf (around 15.000 years ago).
During the excavation carried out in the 90s in Quinta do
Almaraz (by the Tagus River, in the municipality of
Almada) several dog burials were found, dating from the
8th century B.C., when the Iron Age Phoenician
occupation took place. Several skeletons of dog are
practically completed, suggesting that these animals have
unique histories and acknowledging them as distinct
“beings with soul”. These mortuary rites can only be
compared to those of their human counterparts. Four of
the burials have a minimum of two dogs, suggesting the
possibility that maybe we are present with four cases of
double burial. Of the entire collection only two
individuals (CF13 and CF14) were buried in the same
context. In this case, the fact that they are two individuals
of partial skeletons in same square at the same layer, and
the fact that both dogs have the same age suggests the
possibility of a double burial.
By analyzing the bones, we have determinate that the
collection contain a total of 1413 (NTR) fauna remains,
but only 957 belong to canis familiaris, corresponding to
a minimum of 13 individuals (MNI). According to the
pathologies and archaeological remains, they had various
functions in Phoenician society. During the analysis we
came across a clear absence of skulls, complete and/or
partial. We found that there were no signs of cutting in
the bones connected with the skull. This leaves to the
conclusion that skulls had been removed when there
weren’t soft tissue (e.g. when the dog was in the
skeletonization stage), revealing that there may have been
a ritual during the burial and removal of skulls.
Osteological studies of dogs often focus on issues of
taxonomy and as a result little is known about these
animals’ life histories. This work will be focus on
analyzing the dogs’ remains, and their associated fauna
remains. Based on this analysis with the correlation of the
data uncover by analyzing the pathology, discovered in
some dog bones, we suggested that this dogs were more
than companion and guard dogs, in fact they maybe have
had a more important role in the Phoenician society. We
think that these dogs may have help humans in hunting,
pastoralism, and even maybe in fishing.
Keywords: Dog Burials; Iron Age; Phoenician; Quinta
do Almaraz