Caprine Mobility on the Balearic Islands During the Middle and Late Bronze Age (ca. 1600-850 BC): First Results Based on Strontium Isotopes (87Sr/86Sr)

This study presents the Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios from the tooth enamel of 57 sheep and goat specimens, in order to explore animal mobility in the Middle and Late Bronze Age society of the Balearic Islands (Naviform period). Seven archaeological sites from Mallorca and Menorca located in different biotopes and with different functionalities were selected. The results provide some of the first data on the geographic range of meat provisioning at each site. In addition, several present-day leaves, as well as tooth dentine and bones were analysed to assess local strontium isotopic ratios in different geological layers existing in the Balearic Islands. The results suggest that most caprines were sourced from the neighbouring areas of each site, but also suggest a correlation between strontium isotope variability and site function: domestic settlements and sites related with maritime exchanges had significantly more variability compared to fortified sites. In addition, the ritual cave of Cova del Camp del Bisbe had the highest diversity of strontium isotopic ratios, thus suggesting that caprines were brought here from a variety of different locations.

Automated summary

The study on the Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios from sheep and goat tooth enamel in the Middle and Late Bronze Age society of the Balearic Islands reveals a correlation between animal mobility and site functionality, as well as the impact of strontium isotopic ratios in different geological layers on determining animal origins.