Restos de alimentación de origen animal de los pobladores de la cueva de Arenaza I (País Vasco) durante la Edad del Bronce

Abstract

Macromammals remains from the Bronze Age, discovered in the two sections of the excavations made in the Arenaza (Biskay) cave are explained. The livestock comprised cattle as dominating animals, followed by sheep-goats and pigs, both in similar quantities. The analysis of their ages show us that the cave was occupied during all year. Dogs were also present but there are no signs about them having consumed. There were no horse remains. There were also some hunted wild ungulates like deer, boar and roe deer. Among the wild carnivores, bear stands out with three remains, one of wich presents clear butchery marks of anthropic origin. The pats of the animal present at the site, the incisions and tearing knocks, as well as the bites are analysed. The minimum amount of individuals and the age at wich the stock was slaughtered are stimated. The measurements of measurable material are given, in comparison with the already know ones from other sites of the Basque Country. The measurements in the case of bovine, shows us their size was bigger than the one of other bovines found in the Country in the Iron Age.