Subsistence strategies in Bronze Age south-eastern Iberia: insights from Motilla del Azuer Phase 2 (ca. 1950-1875 cal BCE)

Abstract

This study analyses Phase 2 (ca. 1950–1875 cal BCE) of Motilla del Azuer (Daimiel, Ciudad Real) to refine current understanding of subsistence strategies and livestock management. Zooarchaeological analysis reveals a predominance of caprines, followed by pig and cattle. Other domestic taxa, including horse and dog, are present but less abundant. Wild taxa are also represented, with leporids standing out, while large game such as red deer and wild goat are comparatively scarce. Taphonomic analysis of a subsample shows widespread anthropogenic modifications, including butchery marks and marrow extraction, as well as frequent burning traces, mostly mild to moderate, probably related to culinary practices. When compared with previous studies, the results indicate both stability and shifts in herd composition and slaughter patterns. At a broader scale, the assemblage fits within regional Bronze Age trends of increasing caprine exploitation, while differing from Argaric (ca. 2200–1550 cal BCE) contexts in the relative roles of cattle and pigs. The scarcity of large game appears to be a defining feature of the Motilla culture, contrasting with Levantine and Argaric sites, where big game hunting played a more significant role. These results highlight the adaptive strategies of Motilla del Azuer communities to conditions of aridity and demographic growth, and provide new insights into the economic and social dynamics of Bronze Age southeastern Iberia.