{"id":88079,"date":"2023-10-16T09:40:57","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T07:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/?p=88079"},"modified":"2023-10-16T13:17:19","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T11:17:19","slug":"transhumance-iphes-icac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/actualitat\/noticies\/2023\/transhumance-iphes-icac\/","title":{"rendered":"2,500-Year-Old Roots of Transhumance: Pioneering Study Reveals Iberian Communities’ Seasonal Livestock Movements"},"content":{"rendered":"
A study led by IPHES-CERCA featured in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology<\/em> demonstrates that Iberian communities in Catalonia practiced seasonal altitudinal movements.<\/h6>\n

The biogeochemical analysis of different stable isotopes applied to a set of sheep teeth from four Catalan archaeological sites has allowed researchers to confirm that, between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, the agricultural and livestock communities of Catalonia practiced seasonal altitudinal movements<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The findings are essential for understanding the livestock strategies adopted by Iberian communities, which relied on great adaptability to their environment and the use of a sophisticated network of social and economic relationships.<\/p>\n

This is the main conclusion of the study published in the prestigious scientific journal Frontiers in\u00a0Environmental Archaeology<\/em><\/a> by Chiara Messana, a predoctoral researcher at IPHES-CERCA, along with Carlos Tornero (Autonomous University of Barcelona – IPHES), Richard Madgwick (Cardiff University), Angela L. Lamb and Jane Evans (British Geological Survey), and L\u00eddia Colominas<\/strong><\/a> (Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology, ICAC-CERCA).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Altitudinal Mobility in Catalonia During the Iron Age<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Livestock<\/span> strategies<\/span> were<\/span> based<\/span> on <\/span>adaptation<\/span> to <\/span>the<\/span> environment<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> use<\/span> of a <\/span>sophisticated<\/span> network of social <\/span>and<\/span> economic<\/span> relationships<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Seasonal altitudinal mobility has been a widely used practice for centuries by livestock communities in the Iberian Peninsula, allowing them to cope with Mediterranean climate changes. It was previously believed to have begun during Roman times, but the results of the recently presented research show that Iberian communities occupying our territory were already practicing livestock mobility strategies (especially for sheep).<\/p>\n

Biogeochemical analysis<\/strong> of carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotopes applied to sheep dental remains from four Catalan archaeological sites (Mas Castellar de Pont\u00f3s, Tossal de Baltarga, Sant Esteve d’Olius, Tur\u00f3 de la Rovira) has revealed a complex network of livestock movements by Catalan communities during the 3rd century BC.<\/p>\n

These results highlight the extraordinary adaptability of Iberian populations in dealing with climate and geographic challenges before the arrival of the Romans and their zootechnical improvements, as noted by Chiara Messana (IPHES-CERCA).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Society with Adaptable Livestock<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iberian<\/span> populations<\/span> during<\/span> the<\/span> Iron<\/span> Age<\/span> possessed<\/span> extensive<\/span> knowledge<\/span> and<\/span> experience<\/span> in <\/span>sheep<\/span> breeding<\/span>, management, <\/span>and<\/span> exploitation<\/span>. <\/span>This<\/span> ability<\/span> allowed<\/span> them<\/span> to <\/span>successfully<\/span> overcome<\/span> the<\/span> harsh<\/span> mountain<\/span> winters<\/span> and<\/span> arid<\/span> lowland<\/span> summers<\/span>. <\/span>However<\/span>, <\/span>the<\/span> adoption<\/span> of a <\/span>mobile<\/span> livestock<\/span> strategy<\/span> was<\/span> not<\/span> widespread<\/span><\/strong> and<\/span> was<\/span> closely<\/span> related<\/span> to <\/span>environmental<\/span> conditions<\/span>, <\/span>economic<\/span> needs<\/span>, <\/span>and<\/span> political<\/span> decisions in <\/span>each<\/span> settlement<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a <\/span>result<\/span>, <\/span>the<\/span> four<\/span> examined<\/span> sites<\/span> in <\/span>this<\/span> study<\/span> documented<\/span> four<\/span> different<\/span> livestock<\/span> models: Mas Castellar de Pont\u00f3s<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(Girona, 154 <\/span>meters<\/span> above<\/span> sea<\/span> level<\/span>) <\/span>had<\/span> a <\/span>sedentary<\/span> livestock<\/span> system<\/span>; <\/span>at<\/span> Tossal de Baltarga<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(<\/span>Bellver<\/span> de <\/span>Cerdanya<\/span>, 1166 <\/span>meters<\/span> above<\/span> sea<\/span> level<\/span>), <\/span>the<\/span> only<\/span> high-altitude<\/span> settlement<\/span>, part of <\/span>the<\/span> herd<\/span> practiced<\/span> seasonal<\/span> altitudinal <\/span>mobility<\/span> between<\/span> two<\/span> complementary<\/span> ecosystems<\/span>, <\/span>moving<\/span> to <\/span>the<\/span> lowlands<\/span> during<\/span> winter<\/span>; Sant Esteve d’Olius<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>Solson\u00e8s<\/span>, 664 <\/span>meters<\/span> above<\/span> sea<\/span> level<\/span>) <\/span>showed<\/span> a <\/span>unidirectional<\/span> mobility<\/span> type<\/span>, <\/span>with<\/span> the<\/span> addition<\/span> of <\/span>sheep<\/span> from<\/span> external<\/span> sources<\/span> to <\/span>the<\/span> herd<\/span>, <\/span>likely<\/span> as part of a <\/span>product<\/span> exchange<\/span> system<\/span>; <\/span>and<\/span> finally<\/span>, <\/span>at<\/span> Tur\u00f3 de Rovira<\/strong><\/a> (<\/span>Barcelon\u00e8s<\/span>, 266 <\/span>meters<\/span> above<\/span> sea<\/span> level<\/span>), part of <\/span>the<\/span> herd<\/span> practiced<\/span> short-distance<\/span> seasonal<\/span> mobility<\/span> during<\/span> the<\/span> summer<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Implications for Ancient Iberia<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This<\/span> is <\/span>the<\/span> first<\/span> time<\/span> a <\/span>study<\/span> of <\/span>this<\/span> complexity<\/span> has <\/span>been<\/span> conducted<\/span> in Spain<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The<\/span> results<\/span> of <\/span>this<\/span> study<\/span> not<\/span> only<\/span> provide<\/span> a <\/span>more<\/span> comprehensive<\/span> understanding<\/span> of <\/span>livestock<\/span> management <\/span>by<\/span> Iberian<\/span> communities<\/span> in <\/span>the<\/span> northeastern<\/span> Iberian<\/span> Peninsula<\/span> but<\/span> also<\/span> have<\/span> significant <\/span>historical<\/span> implications<\/span>. <\/span>The<\/span> early<\/span> evidence<\/span> of <\/span>seasonal<\/span> altitudinal <\/span>movements<\/span><\/strong> between<\/span> the<\/span> Pyrenees<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> lowlands<\/span> at<\/span> Tossal<\/span> de <\/span>Baltarga<\/span> highlights<\/span> the<\/span> existence<\/span> of a <\/span>more<\/span> integrated<\/span> Iberian-Pyrenean<\/span> world<\/span> connected<\/span> to <\/span>lowland<\/span> communities<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span>Additionally<\/span>, <\/span>the<\/span> study<\/span> opens up<\/span> a <\/span>research<\/span> avenue<\/span> to <\/span>identify<\/span> similar <\/span>strategies<\/span> in <\/span>the<\/span> Iberian<\/span> plateau<\/span>, <\/span>where<\/span> this<\/span> phenomenon<\/span> may<\/span> have<\/span> also<\/span> been<\/span> present.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The study also underscores the existence of complex political relations between different Iberian communities inhabiting the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, which were crucial for facilitating the mobility of animals across different territories. As emphasized by L\u00eddia Colominas<\/strong><\/a>, Ram\u00f3n y Cajal researcher in the GIAP research group at ICAC-CERCA:<\/p>\n

The<\/span> study<\/span> highlights<\/span> the<\/span> importance<\/span> of <\/span>livestock<\/span> during<\/span> the<\/span> Iron<\/span> Age<\/span> and<\/span> suggests<\/span> the<\/span> existence<\/span> of <\/span>specific<\/span> grazing<\/span> areas<\/span> that<\/span> complemented<\/span> agriculture<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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La investigadora Chiara Messana realizando el an\u00e1lisis de is\u00f3topos en las instalaciones del IPHES-CERCA. Autor\u00eda: IPHES-CERCA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Significant <\/span>Methodological<\/span> Contributions<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to its historical importance, the new research also demonstrates the utility of combining data obtained from the analysis of carbon and oxygen quantities in dental remains with strontium analysis, a rare chemical element in nature that can be absorbed by the body and incorporated into the bone structure. It is used in the analysis of bone and dental remains for dating and archaeological research.<\/p>\n

The<\/span> study’s<\/span> results<\/span><\/a> “<\/span>emphasize<\/span> the<\/span> importance<\/span> of <\/span>using<\/span> a multi-<\/span>isotope<\/span> analysis<\/span> approach<\/span> to <\/span>more<\/span> effectively<\/span> trace<\/span> herd<\/span> movements<\/span> across<\/span> different<\/span> altitudinal <\/span>and<\/span> geological<\/span> zones,” <\/span>says<\/span> Carles <\/span>Tornero<\/span><\/strong>, a <\/span>researcher<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> Autonomous<\/span> University of Barcelona <\/span>and<\/span> IPHES-CERCA, <\/span>concluding<\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This<\/span> is <\/span>the<\/span> first<\/span> time<\/span> a <\/span>study<\/span> of <\/span>this<\/span> complexity<\/span> has <\/span>been<\/span> conducted<\/span> in Spain, <\/span>investigating<\/span> the<\/span> chemical<\/span> composition<\/span> of <\/span>sheep<\/span> fossil<\/span> remains<\/span> (in <\/span>this<\/span> case<\/span>, <\/span>teeth<\/span>) <\/span>through<\/span> multiple<\/span> biogeochemical<\/span> analyses<\/span> that<\/span> allow<\/span> the<\/span> reconstruction<\/span> of <\/span>the<\/span> animals’ <\/span>living<\/span> conditions<\/span>“.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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This<\/span> success<\/span> was<\/span> made<\/span> possible <\/span>through<\/span> interdisciplinary<\/span> research<\/span> by<\/span> teams<\/span> from<\/span> IPHES, ICAC, <\/span>and<\/span> UAB, <\/span>which<\/span> combined<\/span> their<\/span> expertise<\/span> and<\/span> analytical<\/span> capabilities<\/span> to <\/span>achieve<\/span> better<\/span> results<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"
La investigadora Chiara Messana realizando el an\u00e1lisis de is\u00f3topos en las instalaciones del IPHES-CERCA. Autor\u00eda: IPHES-CERCA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Paper citation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

C. Messana, C. Tornero, R. Madgwick, A. L. Lamb, J. Evans, L. Colominas (2023). “Between valleys, plateaus, and mountains: unveiling livestock altitudinal mobility in the Iron Age Iberian Peninsula (3rd c. BC) through a multi-isotope approach”, Frontiers in\u00a0Environmental Archaeology<\/em><\/a>, Volume 2 \u2013 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Sobre el Instituto Catal\u00e1n de Arqueolog\u00eda Cl\u00e1sica (ICAC-CERCA)<\/h5>\n

El Instituto Catal\u00e1n de Arqueolog\u00eda Cl\u00e1sica (ICAC-CERCA)<\/a> es un centro CERCA<\/strong> creado como consorcio en 2003 por la Generalitat de Catalunya y la Universidad Rovira i Virgili. Es una instituci\u00f3n l\u00edder en la investigaci\u00f3n y conservaci\u00f3n del patrimonio arqueol\u00f3gico en Catalunya. Tiene su sede en Tarragona, ciudad reconocida como Patrimonio Mundial por la UNESCO en el a\u00f1o 2000. Sus investigadores e investigadoras trabajan para comprender el pasado a trav\u00e9s del estudio de los restos arqueol\u00f3gicos y promover la preservaci\u00f3n del rico legado hist\u00f3rico de la regi\u00f3n. Som CERCA!<\/p>\n

Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n, visitad el sitio web del ICAC en www.icac.cat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A study led by IPHES-CERCA featured in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology demonstrates that Iberian communities in Catalonia practiced seasonal altitudinal movements. The biogeochemical analysis of different stable isotopes applied to a set of sheep teeth from four Catalan archaeological sites has allowed researchers to confirm that, between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":88054,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[328,342,334,336,322,333],"tags":[839,996,1111,1110],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88079"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88079"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88100,"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88079\/revisions\/88100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icac.cat\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}