Arturo Morales Muñiz is presently chair of Zoology and director of the Laboratorio de Arqueozoologia at the Departamento de Biologia of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Faculty of Sciences). By virtue of ERASMUS contracts granted to him as program coordinator, from 1987/88 until 1997/98 he also served as invited teacher to the Universities of Bergen, Copenhagen, Gent, Groningen and Munich.Author of more than 350 research papers, and director 52 research projects plus some 30 PhDs and Master’s thesis, Dr. Morales was one of the founders (1992) and present director of the Journal Archaeofauna. International Journal of Archaeozoology. A member of ICAZ since 1978, he served as a member of its international Committee from 1994-2009, as its General Secretary from 1998-2006 and is now a member of its Committee of Honor.
Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental... more Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental insights into the timing of ecological impacts and the development of coastal communities during the last millennium. Whole genome sequencing approaches can improve such understanding by determining the origin of archaeological fish specimens that may have been obtained from historic trade or distant water. Here, we used genome-wide data to individually infer the biological source of 37 ancient Atlantic cod specimens (ca. 1050 to 1950 CE) from England and Spain. Our findings provide novel genetic evidence that eleventh- to twelfth-century specimens from London were predominantly obtained from nearby populations, while thirteenth- to fourteenth-century specimens derived from distant sources. Our results further suggest that Icelandic cod was exported to London earlier than previously reported. Our observations confirm the chronology and geography of the trans-Atlantic cod trade from Newf...
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) abundance was depleted in the late 20th and early 21... more Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) abundance was depleted in the late 20th and early 21st century due to overfishing. Historical catch records further indicate that the abundance of BFT in the Mediterranean has been fluctuating since at least the 16th century. Here we build upon previous work on ancient DNA of BFT in the Mediterranean by comparing contemporary (2009–2012) specimens with archival (1911–1926) and archaeological (2nd century BCE–15th century CE) specimens that represent population states prior to these two major periods of exploitation, respectively. We successfully genotyped and analysed 259 contemporary and 123 historical (91 archival and 32 archaeological) specimens at 92 SNP loci that were selected for their ability to differentiate contemporary populations or their association with core biological functions. We found no evidence of genetic bottlenecks, inbreeding or population restructuring between temporal sample groups that might explain what has drive...
The cat has long been important to human societies as a pest-control agent, object of symbolic va... more The cat has long been important to human societies as a pest-control agent, object of symbolic value and companion animal, but little is known about its domestication process and early anthropogenic dispersal. Here we show, using ancient DNA analysis of geographically and temporally widespread archaeological cat remains, that both the Near Eastern and Egyptian populations of Felis silvestris lybica contributed to the gene pool of the domestic cat at different historical times. While the cat’s worldwide conquest began during the Neolithic period in the Near East, its dispersal gained momentum during the Classical period, when the Egyptian cat successfully spread throughout the Old World. The expansion patterns and ranges suggest dispersal along human maritime and terrestrial routes of trade and connectivity. A coat-colour variant was found at high frequency only after the Middle Ages, suggesting that directed breeding of cats occurred later than with most other domesticated animals
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the pa... more An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Climate change and size-selective overexploitation can alter fish size and growth, yet our unders... more Climate change and size-selective overexploitation can alter fish size and growth, yet our understanding of how and to what extent is limited due to a lack of long-term biological data from wild populations. This precludes our ability to effectively forecast population dynamics and support sustainable fisheries management. Using modern, archived, and archaeological vertebrae dimensions and growth rings of one of the most intensely exploited populations, the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, BFT), we estimated catch-at-size and early-life growth patterns from the 3rd century bce to the 21st century ce to understand responses to changes in its environment. We provide novel evidence that BFT juvenile growth increased between the 16th–18th, 20th, and 21st centuries, and is correlated with a warming climate and likely a decrease in stock biomass. We found it equally plausible that fisheries-induced evolution has acted to increase juvenile BFT growth, drivi...
The assemblage of molluscs retrieved in an area lying next to the fishing installations in the Ec... more The assemblage of molluscs retrieved in an area lying next to the fishing installations in the Ecuadorian coastal site of Ligüiqui is reported. The small size of the collections, barely 1000 remains, does not preclude the richness of a sample that includes 55 taxa. The analysis reveals that the molluscs mostly represent consumption refuse from human meals with scarce evidence of craftwork and only one specimen of the Spiny Oyster, Spondylus princeps unicolor testifying trade. The faunal remains and the singular fishing installations for which this settlement is best known both indicate that the subsistence of the inhabitants clearly focussed on marine resources. Although the overall composition of the malacological assemblages appears to remain stable throughout the scarcely two centuries the occupation lasted, subtle shifts have been detected in the presence, frequency, and size of certain species that hint at an overexploitation of resources through time coupled with a move towards deeper water whose reasons remain debatable at this point.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental... more Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental insights into the timing of ecological impacts and the development of coastal communities during the last millennium. Whole-genome sequencing approaches can improve such understanding by determining the origin of archaeological fish specimens that may have been obtained from historic trade or distant water. Here, we used genome-wide data to individually infer the biological source of 37 ancient Atlantic cod specimens ( ca 1050–1950 CE) from England and Spain. Our findings provide novel genetic evidence that eleventh- to twelfth-century specimens from London were predominantly obtained from nearby populations, while thirteenth- to fourteenth-century specimens were derived from distant sources. Our results further suggest that Icelandic cod was indeed exported to London earlier than previously reported. Our observations confirm the chronology and geography of the trans-Atlantic cod trade ...
RCMNS Interim Colloquium >Continental-marine interactions during the Neogene in the Mediterran... more RCMNS Interim Colloquium >Continental-marine interactions during the Neogene in the Mediterranean area> Granada, Spain, 9-12 September 2019
Taxonomic over-splitting of extinct or endangered taxa, due to an incomplete knowledge of both sk... more Taxonomic over-splitting of extinct or endangered taxa, due to an incomplete knowledge of both skeletal morphological variability and the geographical ranges of past populations, continues to confuse the link between isolated extant populations and their ancestors. This is particularly problematic with the genusEquus.To more reliably determine the evolution and phylogeographic history of the endangered Asiatic wild ass, we studied the genetic diversity and inter-relationships of both extinct and extant populations over the last 100,000 years, including samples throughout its previous range from Western Europe to Southwest and East Asia. Using 229 bp of the mitochondrial hypervariable region, an approach which allowed the inclusion of information from extremely poorly preserved ancient samples, we classify all non-African wild asses into nine clades that show a clear phylogeographic structure revealing their phylogenetic history. This study places the extinct European wild ass,E. hyd...
Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental... more Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental insights into the timing of ecological impacts and the development of coastal communities during the last millennium. Whole genome sequencing approaches can improve such understanding by determining the origin of archaeological fish specimens that may have been obtained from historic trade or distant water. Here, we used genome-wide data to individually infer the biological source of 37 ancient Atlantic cod specimens (ca. 1050 to 1950 CE) from England and Spain. Our findings provide novel genetic evidence that eleventh- to twelfth-century specimens from London were predominantly obtained from nearby populations, while thirteenth- to fourteenth-century specimens derived from distant sources. Our results further suggest that Icelandic cod was exported to London earlier than previously reported. Our observations confirm the chronology and geography of the trans-Atlantic cod trade from Newf...
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) abundance was depleted in the late 20th and early 21... more Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) abundance was depleted in the late 20th and early 21st century due to overfishing. Historical catch records further indicate that the abundance of BFT in the Mediterranean has been fluctuating since at least the 16th century. Here we build upon previous work on ancient DNA of BFT in the Mediterranean by comparing contemporary (2009–2012) specimens with archival (1911–1926) and archaeological (2nd century BCE–15th century CE) specimens that represent population states prior to these two major periods of exploitation, respectively. We successfully genotyped and analysed 259 contemporary and 123 historical (91 archival and 32 archaeological) specimens at 92 SNP loci that were selected for their ability to differentiate contemporary populations or their association with core biological functions. We found no evidence of genetic bottlenecks, inbreeding or population restructuring between temporal sample groups that might explain what has drive...
The cat has long been important to human societies as a pest-control agent, object of symbolic va... more The cat has long been important to human societies as a pest-control agent, object of symbolic value and companion animal, but little is known about its domestication process and early anthropogenic dispersal. Here we show, using ancient DNA analysis of geographically and temporally widespread archaeological cat remains, that both the Near Eastern and Egyptian populations of Felis silvestris lybica contributed to the gene pool of the domestic cat at different historical times. While the cat’s worldwide conquest began during the Neolithic period in the Near East, its dispersal gained momentum during the Classical period, when the Egyptian cat successfully spread throughout the Old World. The expansion patterns and ranges suggest dispersal along human maritime and terrestrial routes of trade and connectivity. A coat-colour variant was found at high frequency only after the Middle Ages, suggesting that directed breeding of cats occurred later than with most other domesticated animals
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the pa... more An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Climate change and size-selective overexploitation can alter fish size and growth, yet our unders... more Climate change and size-selective overexploitation can alter fish size and growth, yet our understanding of how and to what extent is limited due to a lack of long-term biological data from wild populations. This precludes our ability to effectively forecast population dynamics and support sustainable fisheries management. Using modern, archived, and archaeological vertebrae dimensions and growth rings of one of the most intensely exploited populations, the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, BFT), we estimated catch-at-size and early-life growth patterns from the 3rd century bce to the 21st century ce to understand responses to changes in its environment. We provide novel evidence that BFT juvenile growth increased between the 16th–18th, 20th, and 21st centuries, and is correlated with a warming climate and likely a decrease in stock biomass. We found it equally plausible that fisheries-induced evolution has acted to increase juvenile BFT growth, drivi...
The assemblage of molluscs retrieved in an area lying next to the fishing installations in the Ec... more The assemblage of molluscs retrieved in an area lying next to the fishing installations in the Ecuadorian coastal site of Ligüiqui is reported. The small size of the collections, barely 1000 remains, does not preclude the richness of a sample that includes 55 taxa. The analysis reveals that the molluscs mostly represent consumption refuse from human meals with scarce evidence of craftwork and only one specimen of the Spiny Oyster, Spondylus princeps unicolor testifying trade. The faunal remains and the singular fishing installations for which this settlement is best known both indicate that the subsistence of the inhabitants clearly focussed on marine resources. Although the overall composition of the malacological assemblages appears to remain stable throughout the scarcely two centuries the occupation lasted, subtle shifts have been detected in the presence, frequency, and size of certain species that hint at an overexploitation of resources through time coupled with a move towards deeper water whose reasons remain debatable at this point.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental... more Understanding the historical emergence and growth of long-range fisheries can provide fundamental insights into the timing of ecological impacts and the development of coastal communities during the last millennium. Whole-genome sequencing approaches can improve such understanding by determining the origin of archaeological fish specimens that may have been obtained from historic trade or distant water. Here, we used genome-wide data to individually infer the biological source of 37 ancient Atlantic cod specimens ( ca 1050–1950 CE) from England and Spain. Our findings provide novel genetic evidence that eleventh- to twelfth-century specimens from London were predominantly obtained from nearby populations, while thirteenth- to fourteenth-century specimens were derived from distant sources. Our results further suggest that Icelandic cod was indeed exported to London earlier than previously reported. Our observations confirm the chronology and geography of the trans-Atlantic cod trade ...
RCMNS Interim Colloquium >Continental-marine interactions during the Neogene in the Mediterran... more RCMNS Interim Colloquium >Continental-marine interactions during the Neogene in the Mediterranean area> Granada, Spain, 9-12 September 2019
Taxonomic over-splitting of extinct or endangered taxa, due to an incomplete knowledge of both sk... more Taxonomic over-splitting of extinct or endangered taxa, due to an incomplete knowledge of both skeletal morphological variability and the geographical ranges of past populations, continues to confuse the link between isolated extant populations and their ancestors. This is particularly problematic with the genusEquus.To more reliably determine the evolution and phylogeographic history of the endangered Asiatic wild ass, we studied the genetic diversity and inter-relationships of both extinct and extant populations over the last 100,000 years, including samples throughout its previous range from Western Europe to Southwest and East Asia. Using 229 bp of the mitochondrial hypervariable region, an approach which allowed the inclusion of information from extremely poorly preserved ancient samples, we classify all non-African wild asses into nine clades that show a clear phylogeographic structure revealing their phylogenetic history. This study places the extinct European wild ass,E. hyd...
The physiographical features of the Galician sea, in particular its temperature, marine currents ... more The physiographical features of the Galician sea, in particular its temperature, marine currents and plankton richness, have turned its waters into one of the most biologically diversified marine regions of the planet. The 1500 km of shorelines from this Northwest Iberian region are dotted with rí as (Galician fjords) where settlements devoted to fishing and trade have existed since prehistoric times. These activities left abundant testimonies in terms of archaeological deposits. In recent decades, urban/industrial development, as well as a number of natural agents (e.g., storms, sea level rise, climate change), is rapidly erasing the evidences of this rich cultural heritage. Loss of fish and shellmiddens in particular will hamper our ability to infer traditional lifeways, doing away with evidence that is crucial to monitoring past climatic changes and to inferring those biological conditions under which marine species and coastal populations thrived in the past. This paper surveys some issues dealing with the coastal bio-archaeological heritage of Galicia, and the risks these deposits face. It concludes with a proposal to save this increasingly threatened marine heritage.
Dear all,
We are pleased to announce the Sea, Fish & Sun workshop that will be held simultaneous... more Dear all,
We are pleased to announce the Sea, Fish & Sun workshop that will be held simultaneously at the Maison Méditerranéenne des Sciences de l'Homme of Aix-en-Provence, France and on Zoom the 29th of October 2021. This workshop aims at presenting the works and results of the AMORCE project Icht’isomed² (institut ARKAIA-AMU), a collaboration between Aix Marseille Université (LAMPEA, LA3M & CCJ), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Universiteit Leiden, that combined an archaeo-ichthyological approach of three medieval and modern sites from Provence (Fos sur Mer, Hyères and Aix-en-Provence, IX-XIVth c. AD) with analyses of the Carbon & Nitrogen isotopic signatures of five taxa (Sparus aurata, Anguilla anguilla, Dicentrarchus labrax, Diplodus sargus sargus & Mugilidae) to yield new insights on the acquisition of marine resources through time. Those results will be discussed in regards of works and results concerning Salmon, flatfishes, freshwater and other marine resources that will be presented by teams from University of York, Université Bordeaux Montaigne, Oranim Academic College & University of Haifa, and Université Côte d’Azur. The final aim will be to better understand the ecological implications of the isotopic study of archaeo-ichthyological records in the Mediterranean Sea area and beyond.
Valoración comparada de faunas recuperadas en diferentes yacimientos del curso medio del Duero co... more Valoración comparada de faunas recuperadas en diferentes yacimientos del curso medio del Duero con una cronología que abraca el Hierro I y Hierro II. Destaca la abrumadora dominancia de los mamíferos domésticos frente a los silvestres (ciervo, corzo, jabalí, oso, lobo, lince, gato montés, tejón, nutria, liebre, conejo y excepcionales restos de uro y castor) y las no menos interesantes faunas comensales (gorrión común y ratón doméstico) además de otros restos de aves, reptiles, peces y moluscos.
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Papers by Arturo Morales-Muñiz
We are pleased to announce the Sea, Fish & Sun workshop that will be held simultaneously at the Maison Méditerranéenne des Sciences de l'Homme of Aix-en-Provence, France and on Zoom the 29th of October 2021.
This workshop aims at presenting the works and results of the AMORCE project Icht’isomed² (institut ARKAIA-AMU), a collaboration between Aix Marseille Université (LAMPEA, LA3M & CCJ), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Universiteit Leiden, that combined an archaeo-ichthyological approach of three medieval and modern sites from Provence (Fos sur Mer, Hyères and Aix-en-Provence, IX-XIVth c. AD) with analyses of the Carbon & Nitrogen isotopic signatures of five taxa (Sparus aurata, Anguilla anguilla, Dicentrarchus labrax, Diplodus sargus sargus & Mugilidae) to yield new insights on the acquisition of marine resources through time. Those results will be discussed in regards of works and results concerning Salmon, flatfishes, freshwater and other marine resources that will be presented by teams from University of York, Université Bordeaux Montaigne, Oranim Academic College & University of Haifa, and Université Côte d’Azur. The final aim will be to better understand the ecological implications of the isotopic study of archaeo-ichthyological records in the Mediterranean Sea area and beyond.
Registration : https://tinyurl.com/SeaFishandSunRegistration
Information : mion.leia@gmail.com & tatiana.andre@univ-amu.fr