Carefully sourced, carefully managed: multi-isotopic analysis from Bronze and Iron Age equid teeth from Can Roqueta (Barcelona, Spain)

Equids played an important role in the development of communication in past societies, and were part of the exchanges between populations. The multi-isotopic study (strontium, carbon and oxygen isotopes) conducted on equid teeth from Bronze and Early Iron Age Can Roqueta suggests that animals originate from diverse locations and their diet was carefully managed. The enriched oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios in equid teeth compared with other taxa from the same site suggest that equids may have drunk from water troughs, thus creating a 13C and 18O isotopic enrichment and partial covariance, similar to a lake effect. This is the most comprehensive study on equid mobility in Iberia so far.

Automated summary

The study conducted on equid teeth from Bronze and Early Iron Age Can Roqueta using multi-isotopic analysis suggests that these animals originated from diverse locations and had well-managed diets. The enriched oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios in equid teeth compared to other taxa at the same site indicate that they may have consumed water from troughs, leading to isotopic enrichment similar to that of a lake effect. This is the most comprehensive study on equid mobility in Iberia to date.