Animales y ritual. Los registros fáunicos de las aras de sacrificio del Alto de Garajonay (La Gomera, Islas Canarias)

Abstract

) LXXVI, julio-diciembre; Resumen: Este trabajo aborda el significado de los animales en el santuario del Garajonay en La Gomera. Este es un lugar sagrado para las poblaciones prehispánicas de la isla, donde recurrentemente se realizaron celebraciones rituales en un periodo comprendido entre los ss. vii-xii d. C. cal. Dichas actividades se realizaban en las aras de sacrificio donde se quemaban diversos productos primordiales en la subsistencia de los antiguos gomeros. Con este propósito se estudian los repertorios fáunicos, que constituyen la inmensa mayoría de las evidencias allí recuperadas, estableciendo su composición y patrón de procesado. Al efecto, se concluye una conducta netamente estandarizada, definida por el sacrificio exclusivo de animales domésticos, con una rígi-da selección de las partes anatómicas activas en el ritual. En este proceso el fuego adquiere un protagonismo destacado, contribuyendo a la sacralización de ciertas prácticas sociales. Se analiza asimismo el sentido de tales prácticas en el entramado ideológico de estas poblaciones.Palabras clave: Arqueología gomera; periodo prehispánico; religión; santuarios; pireos; ofrendas animales.Abstract: This paper addresses the meaning of animals in the sanctuary of Garajonay, in La Gomera. It is a main sacred place for the Prehispanic population, in which they systematically used to perform ritual celebrations within the time period between ss. vii-xii ad cal. These activities took place in the sacrificial altars where various products, essential for the survival of the ancient inhabitants, were burned. For this purpose faunal repertoires have been studied, establishing their composition and processing patterns. It is concluded a standardized behavior defined by the sacrifice of domestic animals, with a rigid selection of skeletal parts actives in the ritual. In that process the fire plays a key role, contributing to the consecration of certain social practices. It has also been analyzed the meaning of such practices in the ideological framework of those populations.

Dietary changes across time: Studying the indigenous period of La Gomera using δ13C and δ15N stable isotope analysis and radiocarbon dating

“…We have established that the terrestrial protein is the principal component of the diet. However, the archaeological faunal record suggests that other species, even being less abundant than the goat, could have been consumed by the indigenous population of La Gomera, such as the domestic pig ( Sus scrofa ) (Alberto‐Barroso et al, 2015), along with shellfish.…”

“…The indigenous economy of La Gomera was mostly based on shepherding. Domestic animals found in the archaeological record are goat ( Capra hircus) , sheep ( Ovis aries) , and pig ( Sus domesticus) (Alberto‐Barroso et al, 2015; Hernández‐Marrero et al, 2016). Furthermore, they also had cereal agriculture, based mostly on barley ( Hordeum vulgare ), whose crops were witnessed by the European chroniclers (da Zurara, 1973), and later verified in the archaeological record (Morales et al, 2011).…”

Archaeological Research in the Canary Islands: Island Archaeology off Africa’s Atlantic Coast

“…The firewood used, Canarian pine, must have been introduced from lower altitudes, reinforcing the effort to which people went to conduct ceremonies there. The repetition of these activities over several centuries further emphasizes El Alto's importance to La Gomera's inhabitants (Alberto Barroso et al 2015). Other stonebuilt altars are known on El Hierro and La Palma, although with differences in location and associations, suggesting that communal feasting and ceremony may have been important beyond La Gomera in binding communities together.…”

Fecal biomarkers and micromorphological indicators of sheep penning and flooring at La Fortaleza pre-Hispanic site (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands)

“…2 , 16 , 17 Animal husbandry involved goats, sheep and pigs, but the zooarchaeological distinction between sheep and goat is problematic 18 , 19 and there is little information about possible differences in the exploitation of these two species, which are jointly referred to as "ovicaprid/ovicaprine." 6 , 19 , 20 In the Canary Island context, this ambiguity has led to inconclusive results and the assignment of indeterminate bone remains to goat in a case where goat predominated among the identifiable remains. 6 …”