Cleia Detry

The archaeological site of Vila Nova de São Pedro (Azambuja) was discovered in 1936 through the surveys carried out by Hipólito Cabaço. In 1937, the first excavation campaign was led by Eugénio Jalhay and Afonso do Paço. With the death of the first, in 1950, Paço assumed, with occasional collaborations, the direction of the archaeological works on the site, until 1967. This article intends to analyse the fauna collected and described by Afonso do Paço during these campaigns, about which, however, there is no information on the stratigraphic provenance of artifacts and ecofacts. The data from these campaigns are also compared with the fauna collected during the 2017 and 2018 excavations, carried out under the VNSP3000 project. From this faunistic material without context, it was still possible to acquire some knowledge about species present in the vicinity of Vila Nova de São Pedro during the Chalcolithic.

In 2017, a team from UNIARQ – School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon and the Association of Portuguese Archaeologists presented a research project to the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage, entitled Vila Nova de São Pedro in the 3rd millennium (VNSP3000), with the intention to resume excavations in VNSP. Within the scope of a seminar of the Degree in Archaeology at the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon, Ana Costa Francisco, analysed the remains recovered in the first campaign of 2017. The fauna recovered in the following campaigns were studied by Cleia Detry. The remains of domestic fauna demonstrate the presence of sheep/goat (Ovis/Capra), cattle (Bos taurus) and pig (Sus scrofa domesticus). Hunting is also highly prevalent with the presence of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). The auroch (Bos primigenius) and wild boar (Sus scrofa), although difficult to distinguish from their domesticated counterparts, were also identified in the assemblage.

RESUMO Apresenta-se o estudo da fauna (mamíferos e aves) recolhida no âmbito de várias cam-panhas de escavação no sítio de Monte dos Castelinhos, enquadradas no Projecto PIPA, Monte dos Castelinhos e a romanização do baixo Tejo (MOCRATE). O estudo faunístico que aqui se descreve foi efectuado sobre os restos animais de época republicana (século I a.C.), permitindo reconstruir a dieta e ambiente das populações que outrora habitaram o sítio do Monte dos Castelinhos. Registou-se uma diversidade relativamente grande de mamíferos, sendo a ovelha (Ovis aries), a cabra (Capra hircus), os bovídeos (Bos sp.) e os suídeos (Sus sp.) os animais mais abundantes no conjunto. O veado (Cervus elaphus), o corço (Capreolus capreolus), o coelho-bravo (Oryctolagus cuniculus) e a lebre (Lepus sp.) foram os animais selvagens mais caçados. Registam-se alguns elementos mais raros pertencentes ao lince-Ibérico (Lynx pardinus), cão (Canis familiaris), equídeo (Equus sp.) e a rato (Rattus rattus). Em relação às aves, os restos são escassos estando representados por galinha-doméstica (Gallus domesticus) e perdiz-vermelha (Alectoris rufa). Por fim, os moluscos apresentaram elementos de ostra, amêijoa, berbigão e gastrópodes terrestres, mas estes não serão alvo de detalhe neste artigo. Através deste estudo conseguimos traçar um perfil, não só da dieta, mas também do padrão de procura e produção alimentar destas populações, sendo possível verificar que se alimentavam de animais domésticos e também de caça. Face aos animais capturados foi possível ainda observar que a região circundante do povoado deveria ser constituída por bosques intercalados com campos de pastagens.



ABSTRACT We present a zooarchaeological study of the animal remains (mammals and birds) recovered during the excavations undertaken from 2008 to 2015 at " Monte dos Castelinhos ". This faunal study was carried out on the remains from the Republican period (first century BC), in order to reconstruct the diet and environment of the ancient inhabitants of Monte dos Castelinhos. A wide range of mammals was present. This includes sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus), cattle (Bos sp.) and suids (Sus sp.) the most abundant animals in the assemblage. The red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild rabbit (Oryc-tolagus cuniculus) and the hare (Lepus sp.) were the most hunted. We also recorded remains of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), dog (Canis familiaris), equid (Equus sp.) and rat (Rattus rattus). With regard to birds, the remains are scarce being represented by domestic chicken

RESUMO Os trabalhos de minimização de impacto ambiental levados a cabo durante a construção do reservatório de água Serpa-Norte, puseram a descoberto o sítio arqueológico de Alto de Brinches 3. Este inclui cerca de 224 estruturas negativas do Calcolítico à Idade Moderna. O estudo zoo arqueológico apresentado refere-se aos restos faunísticos do Calcolítico e da Idade do Bronze. O sítio arqueológico de Alto de Brinches 3 contém enterramentos humanos e de animais não-humanos em ambos os períodos cronológicos. Observa-se uma grande diversidade de mamíferos. O veado (Cervus elaphus), ovelha (Ovis aries) ou cabra (Capra hircus) e porco (Sus sp.) são os mais frequentes. Através deste estudo foi possível identificar padrões alimentares e de abandono destas

In this study, we integrate osteometric and palaeogenetic data to investigate dog variability in the Roman Empire in Iberia and North Africa. Osteometry was used to distinguish the statusddomestic or wild, of approximately 2000 years old Canis remains and to understand to what extent teeth and long bones varied in dogs in the Roman provinces of Mauretania Tingitana, Lusitania and Tarraconensis. High-throughput 454-DNA sequencing technology was used to obtain mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from 15 bone and teeth samples. We identified five dog haplotypes from partial sequences of the hypervariable D-loop region. MtDNA haplotypes were grouped into two of the four major clades found in present-day dogs. We detected three clade A haplotypes in 12 samples from Portugal, Spain and Morocco, and a single clade D haplotype in 3 samples from Spain. So far, this is the oldest evidence for the presence of dog clade D in Iberia. It is dated to the late Roman occupation in the 4th-5th cent. AD (ca. 1,600 years ago). Our results confirm the existence of distinct dog morphotypes in Roman times that also harboured distinct genetic lineages. According to our data, dogs from distinct mtDNA lineages (clades A and D) have been continuously bred in the Iberian Peninsula since at least 1600 years ago. Moreover, the sharing of matrilines between dogs from Spain and North Africa may indicate gene flow. Dogs could have been easily transported between these regions by humans along maritime and terrestrial trade routes. These results provide new insights into pre-Roman and Roman domestication practices, confirming selection practices were extensively applied to dogs during the first centuries of our era in the Iberian Peninsula. We show that the greater size variability of teeth length (and consequently cranium) and long bone breadths (and consequently phenotype) of Roman dogs in the Iberian Peninsula, is concomitant with the detection of diverse and rare maternal lineages. This would reflect an intensification of dog breeding and the use of non-local dogs for breeding.

Resumo: Escavações arqueológicas conduzidas no Cabeço Guião (Cartaxo) permitiram detectar um sítio da Idade do Ferro, cujos materiais e datações absolutas possibilitaram datar do século IV a.n.e. Um conjunto habitacional constituído por compartimentos de planta rectangular, com lareira central, foi identificado, tendo sido possível verificar duas fases construtivas. O espólio é numeroso, sendo constituído, maioritariamente, por cerâmicas, de mesa e de cozinha. O estudo destes materiais evidenciou a ligação profunda que o sítio manteve com Lisboa, mas também a existência de importações extra-regionais. Os metais integram elementos de adorno, artefactos de carpintaria e um espeto de carne. Os dois objectos de vidro correspondem a uma conta de colar e a um amphoriskos. A análise dos dados recuperados permite discutir não a evidente função agro-pastoril do sítio, mas as características deste tipo ocupação de âmbito rural. Summary: Archaeological excavations carried out in Cabeço Guião (Cartaxo) have revealed an Iron Age site, whose materials and radiocarbon analysis allow to date from the IV century b.c.e. Habitat structures are rectangular, with central hearths, and it was possible to identify two distinct construction phases. The recovered artifacts are constituted primarily by pottery (amphorae, table, storage and cooking ware), but also by metal and glass artifacts (beads and amphoriskos). The study of these materials showed the deep connection that the site had with Lisbon, but also the existence of extra-regional imports. The analysis of data can be discussed. Despite the fact that an agro-pastoral function of the site is admisible, the characteristics of such type occupation in rural areas deserves to be reviwed. Palavras chave: Rio Tejo, Idade do Ferro, ocupação rural, cerâmicas.

RESUMO
No tricentenário do lançamento da primeira pedra do Real Monumento de Mafra apresentam -se os contextos
arqueológicos identificados no Terreiro D. João V durante as obras de requalificação (2009 -2011). A intervenção
arqueológica incidiu fundamentalmente no Terreiro Norte, espaço urbano que teve já variadas designações e
usos. Inicialmente está relacionado com a cerca conventual (1717 -1843) mas com a intervenção de D. Fernando
II esta área é remodelada, construindo -se o «Jardim do Cerco». Entre 1929 e 1930, todo o terreiro é remodelado,
obra projectada pelo Arquitecto Paulino Montez. Os trabalhos arqueológicos permitiram a identificação de vários
contextos arqueológicos: 1) estruturas, 2) depósitos; 3) aterros. O presente artigo será centrado no estudo
das lixeiras, incluindo o estudo zooarqueológico, o estudo das cerâmicas e faianças. Este artigo pretende dar
um contributo para o estudo do quotidiano no Convento de Mafra, numa perspectiva interdisciplinar.
Palavras -chave: Idade Moderna, Mafra, Arqueologia Conventual.
ABSTRACT
In the three hundred years of the settlement of the first stone of the Royal Monument of Mafra, the archaeological
contexts that were excavated in the Terreiro D. João V during the area’s requalification (2009-2011) are
studied in this paper. The archaeological intervention focused mainly on the north side of the Terreiro, an
urban space renamed several times over the last 300 years. Initially related to the convent’s fence (1717-1843)
it is remodeled with the intervention of King Fernando II when «Jardim do Cerco» was built. Between 1929
and 1930, the entire yard was once again altered after a Paulino Montez’s (architect) project. The archaeological
excavations recognized several archaeological contexts allowing the identification of: 1) structures, 2) deposits;
3) landfills. This paper aims to study of some dumpsters found in the north façade, where the food supply area
and the kitchens were located, including the zooarchaeological evidence, coarsewares and tin glazed pottery.
All of these aspects are indicators of the daily live in the Convent of Mafra and will permit an interdisciplinary
approach to its study.
Keywords: Modern Age, Mafra, Monastic archaeology.

Neste artigo descrevem-se os restos de fauna recuperados nos níveis de ocupação romano-republicana do Castro de Chibanes, situado nos arredores de Palmela. Este sítio arqueológico foi ocupado desde o Calcolítico até ao final do I milénio a.C. Os materiais aqui analisados refe-rem-se a dois horizontes: o IIIA e o IIIB. O primeiro, de carácter mais militar, decorreu entre os finais do século II a.C. e o primeiro quartel do século I a.C.; o segundo, entre o segundo quar-tel e meados do século I a.C. Os materiais encontravam-se distribuídos por duas zonas: uma lixeira no Locus L12, junto da muralha norte da fortificação ocidental, e compartimentos da área habitacional. O conjunto zooarqueológico embora pequeno demonstrou a presença de larga quantidade de moluscos, recolhidos, certamente, na orla marítima da região bem como nos estuários do Tejo e do Sado, áreas facilmente acessíveis a partir de Chibanes. Quanto aos vertebrados, estes eram dominados por animais domésticos como a vaca, caprinos e porco, complementados com a caça de grande porte, de veado e possivelmente javali. A caça de pequeno porte, de coelho e per-diz, foi especialmente relevante na segunda fase (IIIB). This article describes the faunal remains recovered from the Roman Republican levels of Chiba-nes near Palmela, Portugal — an archaeological site occupied from the Chalcolithic to the end of the 1st millennium BC. The materials studied come from two phases: IIIA and IIIB. The first occupation , of a more military type, occurred between the last quarter of the 2nd century BC and the first quarter of the 1st century BC and the second, between the second quarter and mid 1st century BC. The materials were also spread over two zones: one, a dump, in Locus L12, along the north wall of the western part of the fortification, and on the compartments of the housing area. The zooarchaeological assemblage, although small, indicated the presence of numerous molluscs, undoubtedly collected on the nearby seashore as well as the Tagus and Sado estuaries. All are easily reached from Chibanes. As for the vertebrates, these were dominated by domestic animals such as cattle, goat, sheep and pig, complemented with some hunted large game, such as red deer and possibly wild boar too. The small game, like rabbit and partridge, was especially prevalent in the second phase (IIIB).

O presente estudo analisa um pequeno conjunto de faunas recuperadas nas escavações do sítio do Creiro, um estabelecimento fabril, com tanques dedicados à produção de preparados pis-cícolas, localizado no Portinho da Arrábida (Setúbal) e datado do Período Romano (séculos I a V d.C.). Os elementos de fauna foram recolhidos em unidades estratigráficas localizadas nos tanques de salga e no Armazém 2, níveis que foram depositados numa altura de abandono ou desacti-vação da indústria. Os restos observados correspondem a invertebrados marinhos — bivalves e gastrópodes — com espécies comuns na costa portuguesa como a lapa (Patella sp.), o mexilhão (Mytilus edulis) e a ostra (Ostrea edulis), entre outros, mas também a vertebrados, na grande maioria a mamíferos. O veado (Cervus elaphus) é o mais frequente numa primeira fase de ocupação sendo substituído pelo gado bovino (Bos taurus) e caprino (Ovis aries e Capra hircus) numa segunda fase. Mais escassos foram os restos ictiológicos, com apenas dois elementos e as Aves que estavam representadas por apenas três ossos. The present work analyses a small set of faunal remains recovered at Creiro, a roman industrial establishment, with fish salting tanks, located at Portinho da Arrábida (Setúbal) and dated to the 1st to 5th century AD. The faunal remains were collected in stratigraphic units located at the salting tanks and at " Armazém 2 " , these levels where deposited in a time of abandonment and deactivation of the industry. The observed elements correspond to marine invertebrates — bivalves and gastropods — with species common in the Portuguese coast such as the limpet (Patella sp.), mussel (Mytilus edulis) and oyster (Ostrea edulis), among others. It was also found vertebrate remains, the majority coming from mammals. The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is the most frequent in the first phase of occupation and it's substituted by cattle (Bos taurus) and caprine (Ovis aries and Capra hircus) in a second phase. More rare are the icthyological remains, with only two elements and birds represented by only three bones.

The Pleistocene–Holocene transition c. 11.5 ka cal. BP is associated with dramatic climatic changes. These events led to fundamental shifts in landscape and have, therefore, been seen as responsible for a major impact on the human ecological behavior of the last hunter–gatherers in the Western European territory. In the case of Iberian Peninsula, it is commonly assumed that these human ecological adaptations are reflected in the new settlement and subsistence patterns that characterized the Late Upper Paleolithic–Mesolithic transition. Following the argument, the main aim of this paper is to present the state-of-the-art and consider this theoretical model using zooarchaeological data of small terrestrial vertebrates and fish from SW Portugal. Archaeological data are reviewed and discussed in order to analyze the change in the exploitation of small game, birds, and aquatic resources during this period. In this paper, we reinforce the idea that in SW Iberia, subsistence intensification and diversification precede the transition itself and are more likely to be related to other long-term phenomena, cultural and/or demographical, than to the changes in settlement behavior. The state-of-the-art discussed here led to new research questions related to the role of small vertebrates on the changes in human subsistence behavior during the Pleistocene–Holocene from Western Iberia.

The remains collected by Hipólito Cabaço in the 1950s, following the exploration of the cave of Pedra Furada 1 are presented here. The review of the archaeological and osteological material, the later human and faunal, showed that the cave has been visited and used intermittently between the transition from the fourth and third millennia BC; in the middle and second half of the same millennium, as well as during the second millenium BC. Finaly a specific context was atributed to the Sixteenth Century. Of those periods, the first was associated to a collective funerary use, evidenced by radiocarbon dating of an individual’s bone, but it is plausible that the second period also have been mortuary. However the funerary practice in the second millennium BC is not as certain and might be associated with cavernous cults. And this doubt extends to the modern case. The anthropological study estimated globally a minimum of 34 individuals, 10 adults and 24 not adults of both sexes deposited in this cave.

The 1992 and 1993 excavations of Roman to Medieval layers of Conimbriga, in central Portugal, uncovered a Roman amphitheatre that pre-dated the Late Roman wall. Layers dated to the late Roman (3 (6th -7th Cent. AD) and Islamic (7th-11th Cent. AD) periods were also exposed. Almost 3000 animal bones were recovered. Because faunal assemblages are scarce in central Portuguese Roman to Medieval sites, particularly for the Moslem period, these bones presented a unique opportunity to compare Roman and Moslem dietary preferences, the non-food uses of animals, and livestock breeding practices. Mammal bones, particularly cattle, dominated the assemblage, followed by pig and sheep. The presence of wild boar within Moslem contexts suggests that the religious dietary rules were not strictly applied. The presence of wild boar as well as rabbit and red deer, further provide evidence for hunting.

Excavations carried out in a basement of downtown Lisbon, in the Archaeological Centre of Rua dos Correeiros, allowed the identification of several archaeological contexts, namely of residential and industrial type, dated from the 5th century to early 4th century BC. These contexts provided a remarkable set of mammalogical and malacological remains. In the case of mammals most elements came from domestic animals (cattle, sheep, goat, pig, horse and dog), with a reduced representation of hunted animals (red deer). The presence of shellfish demonstrates the use of water resources. These results allow mainly the reconstitution of the diet and, through it, economic and even social characteristics of the respective segment of the population who then habited the riverside area of the city.

The archaeological excavations carried out in Monte Molião (Lagos, Algarve) allowed us to verify the existence of a continuous human occupation between the 4th century BC and 2nd AD. Faunal remains were collected from the various phases identified. These remains allowed us to study the diet of human groups that inhabited the site, as well as to discuss other issues including those related to the coastal and fluvial dynamic of the area. Mammal species are mostly domestic, being dominated by pig, sheep, goat and cattle. As for the hunted species, the presence of red deer, wild boar and wild rabbit was documented. Within the birds, the domestic chicken is by far the most abundant, followed by some wild species. Regarding the mollusks, there is a predominance of marine and brackish water species, which is not surprising given the geographical location of the site.

Resultados da primeira reunião geral de investigadores das áreas científicas da Arqueobotânica e Zooarqueologia a trabalhar em Portugal, realizada em Outubro de 2014, no Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (Lisboa).
Identificando um conjunto de dificuldades comuns às duas disciplinas, os presentes decidiram criar um grupo de trabalho informal para fomentar o diálogo profissional e com as instituições universitárias, a tutela (administração central e regional), as empresas e a comunidade arqueológica em geral.

Resumo
O auroque, veado e javali tornaram‑se
mais pequenos há c. 12.000 anos – uma mudança associada ao aumento
da temperatura. Surpreendente é o retomar posterior de parte do tamanho original. Com o javali em Itália e
auroque no Médio Oriente acontece o mesmo. A diminuição de tamanho do Plistocénico para o Mesolítico
foi, provavelmente, “provocada” pela combinação do aumento de temperatura e caça excessiva. Este último,
representa outro sinal de stress no Mesolítico, aliviado a seguir ao Neolítico com a introdução dos animais domésticos.
Outros sinais incluem uma mudança para mamíferos de reprodução rápida, menor porte e aumento
do consumo de moluscos. No Médio Oriente ocorreram eventos similares como o aumento da exploração
de pequenos mamíferos, gazelas juvenis, peixes e aves. Estas especulações ajudam a compreender porque era
necessário domesticar plantas e animais no Neolítico.
Abstract
Portuguese aurochs, red deer and wild boar, became smaller c.12.000 BP – a change known elsewhere and
associated with increased temperature. More surprising is a subsequent reversal – red deer, wild boar and aurochs
recovered some of their former size. Italian wild boar and Near Eastern aurochs did likewise. Pleistocene
to Mesolithic size decrease was perhaps therefore ‘caused’ by combined temperature increase and overhunting.
The latter, another sign of Mesolithic stress, subsequently relaxed following the Neolithic introduction of
domesticates. Other signs of stress include a shift to rapidly reproducing and small mammals and increased
molluscivory. In the Near East similar events occurred with increased exploitation of smaller mammals, juvenile
gazelles, fish and birds. These speculations help explain why people were forced to begin domesticating
animals and plants in the Neolithic.

El presente estudio sobre la variación osteométrica de los restos de oveja y vacuno recuperados de yacimientos arqueológicos del sur de Portugal —región que fue controlada por los musulmanes— revela que durante el período andalusí se produjo un incremento en la talla de la oveja, seguido tras la reconquista por un subsiguiente aumento del tamaño del vacuno. El análisis de ADN antiguo de un conjunto de metacarpos de vacuno del siglo XV procedentes de Beja ha confirmado una interpretación osteométrica previa: el aumento de la talla del vacuno no fue consecuencia de un cambio en la proporción de los sexos. Tanto los metacarpos más pequeños (vaca) como los más grandes (toro/buey) aumentaron de tamaño en época post-andalusí. Se ha  asumido que estos incrementos en el tamaño de las cabañas ovina y vacuna reflejan su mejora. El aumento de tamaño de la oveja es fácil de entender dada la preferencia de los  musulmanes por la carne de ovino. Sin embargo, el posterior aumento de talla del ganado vacuno es más difícil de explicar, pero podría reflejar un cambio en la dieta de base animal consistente en el reemplazo de la carne de ovino por la de vacuno, así como el aprovechamiento de su fuerza de tracción.

We describe new finds of Herpestes ichneumon (Egyptian mongoose) from an archaeological context in Portugal, directly 14C dated to c. 800 AD. This is at least two centuries older than a previously reported find of this species from Andalusia (southern Spain; Riquelme-Cantal et al., 2008). Our finding provides further support to the hypothesis that the Muslims introduced this animal to the Iberian Peninsula. In particular, we suggest that Berber settlers might have brought it some time during the Umayyad conquest of Iberia or with the establishment of the Emirate of Córdoba.► We describe new finds of Herpestes ichneumon from an archaeological site in Portugal. ► Four bones of H. ichneumon were found in two of the Mesolithic shell middens of Muge. ► One ulna was directly 14C dated to 780–970 Cal AD. ► This is the oldest known directly dated fossil of H. ichneumon in Europe. ► We suggest that Muslims brought the species to Iberia during the Emirate of Córdoba.

In the course of a zooarchaeological survey of Holocene sites in southern Portugal, a substantial size increase of cattle bones was noted following the Christian reconquista of the 11th–13th centuries AD. A size increase in the course of time within a lineage of domestic livestock is usually considered to represent animal improvement. However several other factors including sex may influence the average size of a sample of mammal bones – cattle exhibit considerable sexual size dimorphism, with bulls being larger than cows. A histogram of the distal widths of a large (n = 44) sample of cattle metacarpals from 15th century Beja (Alentejo, Portugal), revealed a bimodal distribution. It was assumed that the large measurements belonged to males and the small to females. In order to rule out the possibility of a post-Moslem change in the sex ratio of cattle, a sub-sample of 21 cattle metacarpals from Beja was selected and we used genetic markers to identify the sex of the animals to which these metacarpals belonged. The ancient DNA sex of all specimens agreed with the previously assumed sex as determined osteometrically. We conclude that the two nearly separated peaks for the metacarpal distal width measurements do indeed indicate sex. A similar bimodal distribution was obtained from another large but earlier sample of cattle metacarpals from Moslem Alcáçova de Santarém (9th–12th century AD). Although these have not been molecularly sexed and since osteometric sexing has now been validated, we conclude that both small (female) and large (male) peaks are smaller than the 15th century ones and that there was an overall size increase or improvement of cattle in this region. Why the Christians improved cattle is unclear, but a selection for larger beeves for meat is one possibility as is the selection of more robust cattle for power. The spread of the quadrangular or chariot plough in Iberia is known to have occurred at this time. We then use the genetically sexed metacarpals to determine which measurements provide reasonable distinction between the sexes. Both the distal width (BFd; as already noted by Svensson et al., 2008; in Swedish medieval cattle) and the width of the lateral condyle (WCL) offer the best distinction. We also used them as a reference ‘collection’ to sex the medieval and post-medieval cattle metacarpals from Launceston Castle in England. This re-visit of the Launceston data corroborates other evidence indicating increased specialisation (milk and veal) in post-medieval cattle husbandry in England.► Portuguese Moslem and Christian period cattle metacarpals form two sizes. ► aDNA analysis of these confirms males are the larger and females the smaller. ► Post-Moslem Portuguese cattle size increase not therefore due to sex-ratio change. ► Christians in Portugal improved cattle for meat and power. ► aDNA-sexed metacarpals indicate BFd and WCL measurements can separate sexes.

The main purpose of this study is to outline the osteometric variation of Sus from the Neolithic to the present day in Portugal.We start by focussing upon two important Chalcolithic sites —Zambujal and Leceia— with their abundant collections of suid bones and teeth. Although it is difficult to clearly assign individual specimens as wild or domestic Sus, the general patterns of distribution of measurements suggest that, at both sites, pig husbandry was more important than wild boar hunting, with slightly more wild boar being represented at Zambujal. Moreover, it appears that, in Portugal Chalcolithic, wild boar was larger than in the Mesolithic. The scarcity of data from Neolithic sites makes it difficult to determine exactly when the pig was first domesticated in Portugal. Our Iron Age to Islamic data indicate stability of pig size in these periods but an abundance of larger forms of Sus in the Islamic period seems more likely to signal an increase of wild boar hunting rather than an improvement of the domestic form. Slight shape differences between wild boar and pig third mandibular molars tend to corroborate this hypothesis. The Portuguese wild boar was and still is smaller than wild boar from regions east of the Iberian Peninsula.

The emergence of Portugal’s Muge Mesolithic, with its characteristic shell middens and human burials, is widely seen as a response to the formationofahighly diverse terrestrialandaquatic ecotone inthe Tagus basin by the Flandrian transgression. Recently, some have suggested that this was an adaptive response to the 8200 cal yr BP event. Using the
available radiocarbon data for the shell middens, paleoclimatic data, and paleoceanographic datawe present anewmodel for the appearance of theMugeMesolithic shell middens and changes in settlement between the Boreal and Atlantic phases for central Portugal. Coastal ecosystems were altered due to diminution in upwelling and the occurrence of the 8.2 kyr cold event, with declining availability of marine resources, rapid sea level rise, and changes in coastal morphology. The result was that the previous coastal setting was no longer suitable for the hunter-gatherer-fishers causing a settlement shift to the new, large, and stable estuary of the Tagus Valley.