Exploitation des animaux domestiques et structuration de l'espace montagnard à l'Âge du Bronze : Llo (Cerdagne, Pyrénées-Orientales)

The archaeozoological study of the remains from the protohistoric site of Llo (mountain open air site) permitted us to characterize the herding strategies during the Bronze Age. It contributed to clarify the origin of landscape changes observed in the mountain of Enveig at the end of this period. The increase of the size of the site (three distinct areas) and of the size of the flocks (cattle, sheep, goats and horses) between early and late Bronze Age and, above all, the diversity of herding systems (flocks composition, breeding purpose(s) of each flock) may have contributed to the landscape changes. At the beginning of late Bronze Age, the three site areas have different economic systems, with linked pastoral activities and the mode of occupation of the areas obviously differs. This variability, and the role of milk and dairy products in the economy of the site, would explain the need, at Enveig, to set up new pastoral areas, to individualise the pastoral paths, that means to adapt the mountain to the needs of herders and their flocks.