Enterrament d'època tardoromana d'un macaco amb 'aixovar' al jaciment de Les Colomines (Llívia, La Cerdanya)

Abstract

[spa] El yacimiento de Les Colomines se ubica en una franja de terreno situada al pie del puig del Castell, al norte de la villa de Llivia (La Cerdanya). La intervención arqueológica se efectuó entre 1997 y 2001 como consecuencia de un proyecto de urbanización. En esta última se descubrió la tumba de un macaco (Macaca sylvanus), junto a un 'ajuar' asociado al primate, de piezas metálicas pertenecientes a otros tantos cinturones de tradición militar romana bajoimperial. La relación estratigráfica de la tumba y el material apuntan una cronoiogia, para el enterramiento, de siglo V-VI La tumba se relaciona con la fase 3 y última de la ocupación del asentamiento, caracterizada por la compartimentación de una planta inicial regular perteneciente a un gran edificio público levantado durante los siglos I y II. En relación al individuo en cuestión, se llevó a cabo un estudio osteológico y biométrico, lo que permitió caracterizarlo a nivel de especie, edad y sexo, asi como un análisis del patrón de microestriación dentaria, y paralelamente un profundo estudio del contexto histórico.

[eng] In 2001 was discovered, in the site of Les Colomines (Llívia, Cerdanya), the remains of an african monkey's burial, a macaque (Macaca sylvanus), containing the skeleton of the animal, with some objects. This group consisted basically in decorated metalic pieces; we can speak, among them, about some bronze military belt fittings, used in the Late Roman Empire. After the excavation, we agree to think al1 this objects were disposed in the moment of the burial. Chronologically: this whole belongs to the V-VI centuries A.O. (Studying this material and the stratigraphic relations of this structure, we can associate this tomb with the third phase of occupation of Les Colomines. This settlement caracterized by important structures, including habitations, and materiais (specially ceramics, but also an epigraphic lnscription), was a public building (maybe a forum), during the romanization period and after (1-11 centuries A.O.). in their third phase, along with the tomb, we discovered an important reestructuration of the buildings, anda group of 204 coins from the period. The interpretation of the tomb and its caracteristics can be associated with diferents military struggles to controi the strategic Pyrennes in the last stages of Roman control of Hispania, between different emperors, and between the Roman Imperial Army and the Barbarians also. Possibly this macacus belonged to an official or a general. Once recuperated, osteological and biometric studies have been made with the bones, and complementary studies about the age, sex, and teeth also. No other exemple has been discovered in the classical world with this caracteristics.