La Draga: Environmental Archaeology

Paleoparasitological investigations on the Neolithic lakeside settlement of La Draga (Lake Banyoles, Spain)

“…As an example, the fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium) is related to ichtyophagy and can infect humans as well as other fish-eating mammals (such as canidae or mustelidae). Archaeozoological studies showed that fishing was a sporadic activity at La Draga (Buxó et al, 2014). This could appear to be in contradiction with the lakeside localization of the site; however, during the neolithization process, a change occurred in the diet, switching from fishing and hunting to a diet based on terrestrial resources and domestic animal products (Tresset and Vigne, 2011).…”

“…This shift involved a decrease in the consumption of fish and correlates with the scarcity of fish tapeworm eggs in the samples. Finally, mustelidae bones as well as domestic dog remains were recovered at the site (Antolín et al, 2014;Buxó et al, 2014;Saña, 2011;Tarrús et al, 2006). The presence of Diphyllobothrium could also relate to the consumption of fish by these mammals.…”

“…and potentially Ascaris sp. The archaeozoological study of La Draga demonstrated the presence of several species of wild and domestic ruminants at the site in low proportions, such as the aurochs (Bos primigenius), deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and ibex (Capra pyrenaica; Buxó et al, 2014;Tarrús et al, 2006). Nevertheless, archaeozoological remains are mostly made up of domestic species, in particular sheep and goat, while cattle and pig are also present but in lower proportions (Antolín et al, 2014;Saña, 2011).…”