Seminar: Ritual Faunal Deposits in Prehistoric Sanctuaries: Zooarchaeological Insights from the Gymnesic Islands (Western Mediterranean)
Event Details:
- Date: Friday, 18 October 2024
- Time: Starts: 14:30
- Venue: John Ioannides Auditorium, Fresnel Building, The Cyprus Institute
Or alternatively, join us on Zoom (Meeting ID: 883 4066 0574, Passcode: 081518) - Speaker: Dr Alejandro Valenzuela Oliver, Researcher, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC)
Abstract
This presentation explores the complex theme of animal sacrifice within the broader context of ritual practices in prehistoric sanctuaries, focusing on the Talayotic sanctuaries of the Iron Age in the Gymnesic Islands (Western Mediterranean). Through the analysis of faunal remains, key zooarchaeological variables such as taxonomic composition, skeletal representation, sacrifice profiles, and butchery processes are examined.
These findings, integrated with the wider archaeological record, provide new insights into the socio-religious and symbolic dimensions of these rituals. The discussion combines theoretical-methodological considerations with an applied case study based on the faunal evidence from the Balearic Islands.
About the Speaker
Alejandro Valenzuela Oliver is a Ramón y Cajal Researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC). He holds a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Barcelona and has extensive expertise in zooarchaeology, Iron Age and Classical archaeology, and insular environments.
His research focuses on the human-animal interactions throughout history, combining radiocarbon dating, ancient DNA analysis, and geometric morphometrics. Alejandro has secured multiple competitive postdoctoral fellowships, including the prestigious Marie Curie and Ramón y Cajal grants.
He has led numerous international research projects and archaeological excavations in the Balearic Islands, contributing over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and several book chapters.
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Additional Info
- Date: Friday, 18 October 2024
- Time: Starts: 14:30
- Speaker: Dr Alejandro Valenzuela Oliver, Researcher, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC)
