Sheep exploitation and husbandry in first farming societies: from production to consumption in Central Pyrenees in the Early Neolithic

摘要: Sheep were the most important species in first domestic flocks Early Neolithic Iberian Peninsula. However, their study has tended to stress role as a fossil guide of neolithization process rather than economic importance. The introduction and initial sheep management exploitation practices Pyrenean sector Ebro river basin are studied here based on two sites this region (Cueva de Chaves Espluga la Puyascada). age sex composition comparative biometric analysis main variables used, data obtained contextualized within general panorama Peninsula western Mediterranean. results show that rapidly introduced included subsistence strategies they maintained homogenous metrical characteristics during Neolithic. implications for debate then discussed.