Los efectos de la romanización en la gestión ganadera: la cabaña equina de Serrat dels Espinyers (Lérida) como ejemplo de la cría mular en la Península Ibérica

Abstract

In this work, we study the bone remains of 32 equid individuals, dated among 3rd-2nd centuries BC. They were deposited, sometimes the complete carcass, in diverse pits from Serrat dels Epinyers, a site related with production and storage of crop surplus, close to the place where the roman town of Aeso was built.The morphometric study has been done according published works about osteological differences among equids. It allows us to distinguish three groups: horses, asses and finally a group where we can observe horse-like characteristics and ass-like characteristics as well and we must classify as hybrids. That is a novelty in the animal husbandry of the second Iron Age in the Iberian Peninsula.The anomalous quantity of specimens located and the evidence of hybridation practices among the equine herds have indicated a specialized and efficient husbandry that would be kept for burden transport, probably related with the presence of Roman troops and the necessity to supply more important urban centres.