Past people’s lifeways in Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain): The zooarchaeological study of Fiquinineo-La Peña de las Cucharas settlement

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the lifeway of the Majo (the known name of Lanzarote Indigenous people) through the first zooarchaeological study conducted on Lanzarote Island. This article analyzes the terrestrial and marine species from Fiquinineo-La Peña de las Cucharas settlement and provides detailed anatomical identifications for this faunal assemblage. Diachronic and synchronic analyses exploring animal husbandry, cut marks, paleopathology, and bone technology, are informed by the stratigraphic data for the Majo and European periods. The results yield significant insights: (1) continuity in animal husbandry, revealing a management strategy that includes milk and meat production; (2) a discernible shift in technological approaches; (3) lifeway diversity in the Indigenous Period; (4) the paramount significance of Capra/Ovis for secondary product acquisition during the Majo Period; and (5) the relevance of maritime and bird resources in the subsistence strategies of settlement inhabitants. This study provides valuable insights into the historical and ecological dynamics of Lanzarote Island, offering a more nuanced understanding of the lifeways of its ancient inhabitants.