Archaeological evidences from the second half of VIth millennium cal BC show the development of new economic practices such as agriculture and livestock breeding, and as well new social structures, ideological, etc. in the northwest of...
moreArchaeological evidences from the second half of VIth millennium cal BC show the development of new economic practices such as agriculture and livestock breeding, and as well new social structures, ideological, etc. in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, as it happens in the rest of Europe. One of the most common material evidence of the communities that were involved in the initiation and development of these processes is usually ceramic vessels. Research on these items provides us with information about theirs formal characteristics and different aspects of the production process. In addition, a multi-analysis approach of the study of the clay vessel will help us to resolve about the possible uses. Thus, the specific study of the pottery use based on the residue analysis preserved in the vessel will help to cat light on the possible various use of the vessels (cooking, storage, processing of different types of substances, etc.). Moreover, the identification of these residues can help to increase the awareness of different aspects of the groups of people who used them, such as their environment, their consumption patterns, etc. information really useful taking into account that available knowledge about the Neolithic communities settled in high mountain areas is certainly scarce
The development of this research can raise different types of issues. One of this is related to the particular consumption of food cooked in different areas. .
In this paper, the results obtained in the study of the archaeological sequence of the Cova del Sardo (Catalonia, Spain), located in the western Pyrenees, at 1,800 meters above sea level are presented. This place was used on a recurring basis by small groups of shepherds from 4800 to 2100 cal BC. The analysis by GC-MS and GC-C-IRMS techniques on a set of samples of ceramic vessels from various phases of occupation of this site let explain the subsistence practices developed by these groups at this location based on of ruminants and no-ruminants species, but also it allows significantly extend the findings to better describe certain characteristics of their socio-economic organization and particular aspects of the use of this site.
