Zooarchaeological study of the faunal remains from the Neolithic cardial level of Cova Bonica (Vallirana, Barcelona)

Abstract

This paper presents the zooarchaeological and taphonomic study of the faunal assemblage recovered from the Early Neolithic Cardial layers of Cova Bonica (Vallirana, Barcelona). The faunal remains come from a funerary context, dated between 5470 and 5220 cal BCE, being one of the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula. The human remains recovered as well as the presence of different structures indicate that the cave was used as a burial space but also as a domestic space and/or sheepfold. However, the low rate of sedimentation makes it difficult to go deeper into how these activities were carried out and what elements were involved in them. The activities documented in this faunal material allow us to identify two main activities. Firstly, a livestock activity based on the breeding of sheep and goats for the production of meat and dairy products. Secondly, the processing and consumption of carcasses which could be related to a domestic use of the cave by the shepherds as well as consumption related to funerary practices or a combination of both.