Zooarchaeological study of Aldovea (Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid), a new Bronze Age archaeological site from the Iberian Peninsula inland

• Published in: Journal of archaeological science, reports reports, 2024-09, Vol.57, p.104616, Article 104616
• Main Authors: Estaca-Gómez, Verónica, de la Torre, Adrián, Tardaguila-Giacomozzi, Silvia, Major-González, Mónica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal domestication; Bronze age; Ritual Faunal depositions; Zooarchaeology
• ISSN: 2352-409X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104616

•A new Bronze Age Site in the inside of the Iberian Peninsula.•There is a better representation of domestic fauna than wild fauna.•Caprines are the most abundant animal, followed by cattle and suids in domestic context.•Cattle is the main animal in the “Deposit” context. The Bronze Age period in the inland of the Iberian Peninsula is marked by settlements sharing a common culture known as “Campo de Silos” or “Fondos de Cabañas”. These archaeological sites are usually located in river valleys and are characterised by an agricultural and farming nature as well as a notable lack of defensive structures. The material culture from these sites often reflects agricultural and farming activities, with silos usually containing faunal remains. Despite the abundance of sites from this period across the Iberian Peninsula interior, there has been a scarcity of zooarchaeological studies analysing animal husbandry and management practices for the regional Bronze Age period. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by analysing the zooarchaeological evidence from the Aldovea archaeological site, a new settlement discovered in Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid). This study aims to contribute new evidence to enhance the understanding of faunal husbandry and management practices among Bronze Age societies in the Tagus Valley in the Iberian inland.