Camelids in the south of the Iberian Peninsula in Roman and medieval times. Osteological evidence from the city of Cordoba (Spain)

Abstract

This paper presents the results obtained concerning the possible presence of camelids in the city of Cordoba (Spain) in Roman and medieval times, after the review of all the faunal assemblages corresponding to these historical periods deposited in the Provincial Archaeological Museum of the city. This research has allowed the recovery and contextualization of nine dromedary bone remains corresponding to nine individuals, four of which have been dated by 14C. A stable isotope analysis has also been carried out which indicates the possible arrival of these animals from other provinces of the empire in Roman times and from North Africa in medieval times. Besides, we carried out a bibliographical update of all bone remains found in the Iberian Peninsula for the periods analyzed, concluding that the main use of them was for transporting and manufacturing different tools.