Chelonian use in Portugal: Evidence from Castelo Velho de Safara

Abstract

Chelonian remains in Portuguese archaeological sites are relatively common, but they frequently occur in low abundance within zooarchaeological assemblages. Turtle and tortoise remains appear in Palaeolithic contexts through Modern times. However, there is a clear lack of representation of these reptiles within Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman contexts. Castelo Velho de Safara is now the first Portuguese site showing an anthropogenic use of chelonians, namely the Mediterranean Pond Turtle/Spanish Terrapin (Mauremys leprosa, Schoepff in Schweigger 1812), in a Roman Republican occupation. Skeletal part representation coupled with a detailed taphonomic analysis of the terrapin remains demonstrate that Mauremys leprosa was part of the subsistence strategy of the population living on site. Terrapins were gathered nearby, likely during random encounters in the environment as an opportunistic capture, since they do not seem to have been specifically targeted or intensively consumed. Nonetheless, their presence within the faunal assemblage reinforces research suggested by a preliminary study of the mammal remains, highlighting that this Romanized population had a relevant consumption of wild resources, even though domesticates are also present on site.