Work

Medieval fisheries in Almada (Portugal): New data for the 13th century in West Iberia

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: • Ichthyofaunal assemblage from 13th century deposits in the western Iberian Peninsula’s coast. • Relevance of aquatic resources in late medieval coastal towns. • Presence of different fish processing methods and a possible hub for dried hake production. Archaeological excavations in Almada (Portugal) revealed the presence of numerous storage pits filled with domestic waste. Both artefactual analysis and radiocarbon dating establish medieval chronologies from the 13th c. Located at the confluence of riverine and marine environments, Almada’s faunal assemblages reveal a diverse exploitation of aquatic resources. This study analyses fish remains from four sites, revealing the exploitation of a diverse range of fish (∼45 taxa) caught in different fishing grounds, as suggested by the high frequencies recorded for sparids (Sparidae) european hake ( Merluccius merluccius ) and sardine ( Sardina pilchardus ).We aim to verify whether changes can be documented both in the range of taxa, and the skeletal spectra, potentially revealing differential processing of fish for local consumption. By comparing these results to other Iberian sites, this study contributes to broader debates on medieval fisheries, recovery bias, trade, and species preferences across regions and settlement types.

Source: Journal of Archaeological Science Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105647

Authors: Eva Pires, Sónia Gabriel

Institutions: CHAM - Centro de Humanidades, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Language: English

Topic: Archaeology and ancient environmental studies

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,910