‘Animal Farm’: The Faunal Record from the Chalcolithic Ota Site (Alenquer, Portugal) and Its Regional Significance

Nelson J. Almeida; André Texugo; Ana Catarina Basílio

doi:10.4312/dp.49.18

Authors

Nelson J. Almeida UNIARQ, Center for Archaeology of the University of Humanities of the University of Lisbon, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3653-0850
André Texugo UNIARQ, Center for Archaeology of the University of Humanities of the University of Lisbon; CEG, Centre for Geographical Studies, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Lisbon; Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Lisbon, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9735-5523
Ana Catarina Basílio Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Lisbon; Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7999-3831

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.49.18

Keywords:

Chalcolithic, southwestern Iberia, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, walled enclosure

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the excavations carried out in the Chalcolithic contexts from the walled enclosure of Ota (Alenquer, Portugal). Six new absolute dates allow the discussion of the stratigraphical evidence and chronologically frame the zooarchaeological and taphonomical analysis of the faunal assemblage. Domesticated swine, caprine and bovine are prevalent, while wild species, most notably leporids, but also red deer, auroch and wild boar, among others, are less common. Exploitation and management of animals for the acquisition of primary and secondary products are inferred. Existing data suggests that the economic intensification that started during the previous phases was ongoing.