A “shell-midden” dated to the Middle Ages in Northern Spain: The church of San Juan Bautista in Colindres

Abstract

Bioarchaeological evidence of subsistence strategies during the Middle Ages is scarce in the Cantabrian region (Northern Spain). In the excavations carried out at the church of San Juan Bautista in Colindres (Cantabria), a ‘shell-middeń composed almost exclusively of archaeozoological and anthracological remains was documented, and then dated between the second part of the 12th century and the beginning of the 15th century CE. The animal remains belong mainly to invertebrates, with the marine bivalve Cerastoderma sp. (cockle) being the most abundant taxon. The acidic pH of the sediment, however, has meant that vertebrate remains are scarce and of very small size, with the documentation of freshwater fish teeth (Cyprinidae) standing out. The anthracological data indicate the use of various types of wood as fuel (including fruit trees), which points to an anthropised landscape. This accumulation of remains has been interpreted as a waste tip resulting from the daily activities (shellfishing, fishing, plant cultivation) of the people who lived around the church. Finally, the importance of this type of resource in the Cantabrian region and nearby areas during the Early Middle Ages is assessed, taking into account both the bioarchaeological information and the scarce historical data available.