Faunal Remains from an Almohad (Ad XII/XIII) Silo at the Castle of Aljezur (Portugal)

• Published in: Archaeofauna
• Main Authors: Mota, Diogo, Cardoso, J.L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid 2016
• Subjects: Zooarchaeology; Islamic; Almohad; Aljezur; Algarve; Portugal; Zooarqueología; Época islámica; Almohades; Gato; Perro; Lince; Lynx
• Online Access: https://revistas.uam.es/archaeofauna/article/view/6363

The analysis of a faunal collection from a storage silo found in the castle of Aljezur, dating from the Almohad period (XII/XIIIth centuries AD), is presented. It appears that the community occupying the castle concentrated on hunting species such as the rabbit, wild boar, red deer and Iberian lynx, while evidences of stockbreeding were scarce and centered upon caprines with horses and chicken playing minor role. The presence of a large dog has been assumed to be an aid for hunting but possibly also in herd keeping. With the exception of the lynx, all large mammals evidenced traces of consumption. The domestic cat is taken to represent a pet whereas the lynx had probably a role as a fur provider. It should be noted that equids and the pond turtle were probably food items. Rodents are taken to represent commensals whereas the toad of the Genus Bufo probably represented an intrusive element. Se presenta el estudio de un conjunto faunístico recogido en un silo del castillo de Aljezur en época Almohade (siglos XII/XIII d.C.). Se atestigua una notable actividad cinegética centrada sobre el conejo con aportes secundarios de ciervos, jabalíes y lince ibérico. Las evidencias pecuarias, centradas sobre caprinos y con équidos y gallinas como grupos secundarios, son marginales. Se asume que el perro actuó como auxiliar de caza y no tanto en la vigilancia de rebaños. En el caso de los macromamíferos, con excepción hecha del lince, las evidencias apuntan al consumo de la carne. El gato probablemente representó un animal de compañía en tanto que la presencia de lince se justificaría por su interés peletero. Tanto los équidos como el galápago parecen representar elementos de consumo. Frente a ellos, los restos de roedores representan animales comensales en tanto que los de sapo del género Bufo representan intrusivos