An approach to prehistoric shepherding in La Gomera (Canary Islands) through the study of domestic spaces

Abstract The present research, included in the project “ A history of shepherding on the Island of La Gomera ”, investigates the historical development of shepherding on this island from prehistoric to modern times, and from a social, economic, territorial, ecological, and cultural perspective. Within the framework of the project and its multidisciplinary approach, we present the initial phase of the archaeological study, which aims to delve into the management and consumption of livestock during the island's prehistory. In order to track this “culture” from an archeological standpoint, residential contexts have been proposed as a first stage in the survey, as they have not so far been addressed as an important issue for the archeology of La Gomera. To this end, thirteen archaeological sondages have been carried out in five separate points of the island. Exhumed archaeological materials relating them to the stratigraphic context of each domestic space are analyzed. Data from the consumption of food, especially those from the livestock, has been studied. The text provides preliminary information on shepherding and management of the island territory by ancient Gomerans.