Reconstruction of the economical and social features of an Eneolithic settlement in Sardinia based on animal remains

The settlement of Su Coddu in the neighbourhood of Selargius, Sardinia was dug out from 1981, though its existence was known even before. It dates back to the late Neolithic and early Eneolithic Age (radiocarbon dating: 4708-4350 BP). Its study has been of great interest as is one of the few prenuragic Sardinian sites which has been undergoing interdisciplinary studies carried out by archaeologists, paleobotanists, archaeozoologists, geologists, etc.

During excavations, thousands of animal remains were brought to light. Materials classified so far consist in vertebrate bones and teeth belonging to both domestic (sheep, goat, cow and pig) and wild species (deer, wild boar and Prolagus). In addition, a high amount of sea shells (mostly Solen marginatus, Tapes decussatus, Cerastoderma edule, Ostrea edulis) and one jaw from gilthead (Sparus aurata) weighing about 1.2 kg were found. The identification of the species, as well as the careful observation of bone surfaces, where cut or working marks were frequently found, suggest that they could be meal remains, letting us reconstruct the economy of the village, supposed to be based on sea-shell gathering and fishing, along with breeding and hunting. Moreover, mitochondrial DNA is being extracted, amplified and sequenced from sheep and goats with the aim of pointing out possible variation and therefore characterizing the genetic profile of Eneolithic sheep and goat population in Sardinia.