Economic implications of livestock management strategies in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, Tagus Basin, and Mancha Alta region between the VIII and XI centuries AD

Abstract

Livestock farming was one of the major economic activities during the early Middle Ages. The exploitation of livestock resources became very important since the Visigothic period (C. 415–711 AD), although our knowledge is still considerably limited for the central regions of Iberia. Some historiographical works about stockbreeding during the Middle Ages as well as zooarcheological analyses exist; however, few researchers have focused on the study of farming during the early Middle Ages. We present here a taphonomical and zooarcheological analysis of several archeological sites, in order to illustrate the range of farming strategies developed in the center of the Iberian Peninsula during the VIII–XI centuries (Andalusian period). This study explores the economic exploitation and management strategies of domesticates such as Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Capra hircus, and other, less frequent animals, such as Sus domesticus, Equus ferus caballus, Equus africanus asinus, and Canis familiaris, in addition to wild species. Our results indicate that Ovis/Capra (caprines) were the most represented species at these sites, even though some animals, such as pigs, were more frequent than what we would expect in the Muslim world. Together, these lines of evidence allow us to discuss not only the economics of everyday life in the early Middle Ages, but also the nature of the changes that Iberian populations experienced with the arrival of Christian conquerors.