Herd management and animal catchment areas at the taula enclosure of Binissafullet site (Menorca, Spain): A multi-isotopic approach

Abstract

This study presents the first isotopic analysis of livestock from a taula sanctuary dating from the Second Iron Age (c. 550-123 BCE) in Menorca (Spain). These emblematic structures contain the remains of animals, evidence of wine consumption, and other artefacts. Consequently, these structures are interpreted as sanctuaries or places where social cohesion was reinforced. The archaeological record reveals a blend of local and extra-insular elements. The main objectives of this study were to determine where the livestock buried within the taula enclosure were sourced from and to gain insight into how these communities exploited the available resources. To this end, the strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr), carbon (δ¹³C), and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotope ratios were analyzed in enamel samples taken from 27 domestic caprines found in the taula enclosure at Binissafullet site (Sant Lluís, Menorca). The results are mainly compatible with a livestock that grazed in the vicinity of the settlement and consumed C₃ type plants. This is consistent with the available palaeobotanical information, which shows a landscape characterized by Mediterranean vegetation with no C₄ plants present. Finally, some individuals are recorded as having grazed in more radiogenic areas, which were probably located in the northern part of Menorca (Tramuntana region, approximately 8 km from the settlement). This type of grazing has previously been documented in the Bronze Age on the island, and the results obtained here seem to suggest continuity in mobility-related livestock.