Bovinos en estructuras funerarias del Neolítico Medio del noreste de la Península Ibérica. La necrópolis de la Bòbila Madurell como caso de estudio sobre la gestión del vacuno

En la ganadería neolítica de la Península Ibérica el bovino doméstico (Bos taurus) fue el segundo taxón en importancia, después de los ovicaprinos. Algunos yacimientos constituyen una excepción y presentan una mayor abundancia de bovino. Éste es el caso de la necrópolis de la Bòbila Madurell (4210-3670 cal BC), la más extensa del Neolítico Medio peninsular en superficie y en número de tumbas. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la configuración de la cabaña bovina a partir de los conjuntos faunísticos registrados en los principales sectores de la necrópolis. Un volumen de restos importante ha permitido diferenciar 37 animales en 20 estructuras. Basándonos en el análisis osteométrico se caracteriza el conjunto y se descarta la presencia de ejemplares salvajes o uros (Bos primigenius). Los resultados indican que el rebaño fue explotado básicamente para la obtención de carne una vez obtenido su peso óptimo y secundariamente para el aprovechamiento de la leche. ABSTRACT: Cattle was one of the main species raised by the first Neolithic farmers in the Iberian Peninsula. In most of the sites, domestic Caprines were the basis of the economy, with cattle being a complement. However, there were some exceptions, especially in open-air settlements, where bovines were the main species bred. This is the case of the necropolis of Bòbila Madurell (4210-3670 cal BC), the most extensive of the Iberian Middle Neolithic in surface and number of tombs. The importance of the cattle in the ritual of this site has been related to its economic importance for these groups of the Middle Neolithic. This work focuses on the zooarcheological study of cattle remains recovered in the two main sectors of this necropolis, “Madurell Sud” and “Madurell Ferrocarrils”. The aim is to analyse the management of cattle herds during the Middle Neolithic. The osteometric analyses and the determination of the age-at-death and obtaining mortality profiles have been the basis of this study. Osteometric analysis has made it possible to differentiate between the remains of cattle and their agriotype, the aurochs. Mortality profiles provide information on the economic use of these animals. 37 individuals were identified from 20 structures. Based on the osteometric analysis, we have characterized the whole and ruled out the presence of wild specimens or aurochs (Bos primigenius). Mortality profiles indicate that the herd was exploited basically for meat, once its optimum weight was obtained, and secondarily for milk.