L\u00eddia Colominas (GIAP, ICAC-CERCA) has carried out the osteological study of the six animals that were found burned on the lower floor of the building<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The researchers, led by Oriol Olesti<\/strong>, lecturer of the Department of Antiquity and Middle Age Studies at the UAB, found the charred remains of a horse, four sheep and a goat, along with valuables such as an iron pickaxe and a gold earring concealed in a pot.<\/p>\n Archaeologists also found cereals such as oats and barley, and cooking vessels, with residues showing that the people using the building had been consuming milk and cheese and eating pork and lamb stews.<\/p>\n The study reveals the diversity of practices that were carried out in a Pyrenean settlement in the Iron Age: livestock, to obtain and produce wool, meat, milk, manure, traction, and riding; agriculture; forestry exploitation; and mining.<\/p>\n The importation of some ceramic vessels and the presence of several coins from Emporium and southern Gaul indicate a modest, but effective, trade with neighboring communities. Therefore, the complex economy of these settlers indicates, for Oriol Olesti (UAB), principal investigator of the research, “an Iron Age society adapted to their environment and took advantage of their resources in the highlands. But it also shows their contact with other communities”.<\/p>\n Tossal de Baltarga was a place of residence and lookout point for the Cerretani community with an important fortified settlement nearby, the Castellot de Bolvir. It seems to have lacked defensive walls, but had an excellent view over the river and the main travel routes.<\/p>\n We know that Hannibal crossed the Pyrenees fighting against local tribes, also probably against the Cerretani. Not many archaeological remains are preserved from this expedition, but Tossal de Baltarga is probably one of the best examples, Oriol Olesti (UAB).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The research, published on May 17, 2024, in the prestigious scientific journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology<\/em><\/a>, results from interdisciplinary work combining various study techniques and approaches.<\/p>\n L\u00eddia Colominas<\/strong><\/a> (researcher in the GIAP<\/a> research group at ICAC-CERCA and coordinator of the archaeozoological studies of the site), has carried out the osteological study of the six animals that were found burned on the lower floor of the building.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Her work led to document that the ovicaprine animals were adults at the time of their death<\/strong> and that these animals were exploited to obtain wool and milk. In addition, it is possible that they were also used as breeders, without forgetting the use of their manure to fertilize the fields or as fuel. This suggests that the value of the products that could be obtained from these animals in life was more important than that of their meat.\u00a0 Regarding the horse, he was 4 years old when he died, an age at which horses are usually considered adults and can begin to be ridden.<\/p>\n The presence of a horse bit in the same room could indicate that it was already training for this activity, emphasizes L\u00eddia Colominas.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n The analysis of the stable isotopes<\/strong> of the four sheep, carried out by Chiara Messsana (IPHES-BUSCA), in turn, has made it possible to show for the first time that one of the sheep practiced altitudinal mobility during its second year of life. The animal moved to less cold lands in winter and returned to the Pyrenees in summer.<\/p>\n Therefore, according to L\u00eddia Colominas, \u201cthe evidence of mobility in at least one of the sheep confirms these links with the plain<\/strong>, which probably must be related to the need for salt and winter pastures. At the same time, it shows the complexity of the livestock practices carried out in this settlement, where only part of the herd moved.”<\/p>\n The research was led by Oriol Olesti (researcher of the Department of Antiquity and Middle Ages Sciences at the UAB); with the participation of Jordi Morera, Joan Oller and Jose M. Carrasco (researchers from the same department); Anna Berrocal, Oriol L\u00f3pez Bult\u00f3, Laura Obea, Nadia Tarifa and Joaquim Sisa L\u00f3pez de Pablo (researchers from the Department of Prehistory at the UAB), L\u00eddia Colominas<\/strong><\/a> (Ram\u00f3n y Cajal researcher in the GIAP<\/a> group of the Catalan Institute of Classical Archeology, ICAC-CERCA), Marta Portillo (Instituci\u00f3 Mil\u00e0 i Fontanals of the CSIC), Paula T\u00e1rraga (Univ. of Heidelberg) and Chiara Messana (IPHES-CERCA<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the article in open access!<\/strong><\/p>\n “The exploitation of mountain natural resources during the Iron Age in the Eastern Pyrenees: the case study of production unit G at Tossal de Baltarga (Bellver de Cerdanya, Lleida, Spain)”<\/a>, Front. Environ. Archaeol.<\/em>, 17 May 2024, Sec. Landscape and Geological Processes, Volume 3 – 2024, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fearc.2024.1347394<\/p>\n Oriol Olesti, Jordi Morera, Joan Oller, Jose M. Carrasco, L\u00eddia Colominas, Marta Portillo, Anna Berrocal, Oriol Lopez-Bult\u00f3, Laura Obea, Nadia Tarifa, Paula T\u00e1rraga, Joaquim Sisa-L\u00f3pez de Pablo, Chiara Messana.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n The results of the study have had a media impact in several media news:<\/p>\n \u00abTroben noves pistes del pas de l’ex\u00e8rcit d’Ann\u00edbal per la Cerdanya\u00bb<\/a>, Diari ara<\/em>, May 17, 2024.<\/p>\n \u00abDescubren que un violento incendio congel\u00f3 en el tiempo un aterrador crimen del siglo III a.C. en los Pirineos\u00bb<\/a>, La Raz\u00f3n<\/em>, May 17, 2024.<\/p>\n \u00abArchaeologists Reveal Iron Age Building Destroyed by ‘Violent’ Fire\u00bb<\/a>, Newsweek<\/em>, May 20, 2024.<\/p>\n \u00ab’It was not a peaceful crossing’: Hannibal’s troops linked to devastating fire 2,200 years ago in Spain\u00bb<\/a>, LiveScience<\/em>, May 17, 2024.<\/p>\n \u00abA devastating fire 2,200 years ago preserved a moment of life and war in Iron Age Spain, down to a single gold earring\u00bb<\/a>, Phys.org<\/em>, May 17, 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nFindings show a complex economy<\/h6>\n
The passing of Hannibal’s troops<\/h6>\n
A livestock farm adapted to the territory<\/h6>\n
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<\/h6>\n
The success of interdisciplinary work<\/h6>\n
An impact investigation<\/h6>\n
\nAbout the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC-CERCA)<\/h6>\n
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