Phytolith and Calcitic Spherulite Indicators from Modern Reference Animal Dung from Mediterranean Island Ecosystems: Menorca, Balearic Islands

This study illustrates the contribution of plant and faecal microfossil records to interdisciplinary approaches on identification, composition, taphonomy seasonality livestock dung materials. The focus is opal phytoliths calcitic spherulites embedded within modern pellets collected from pasture grounds pens a range animals, including cattle, sheep pigs three different farms seasons year in Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Modern reference materials provide comparative indicators factors affecting formation, preservation decay animal faeces, as well diverse environmental anthropogenic aspects influencing these. reported results show relevant changes phytolith spherulite composition according species age, management, seasonality, grazing foddering regimes. Both fundamental information taphonomic issues that are understudied, such variation digestibility among species, under investigated animals pigs, microfossils excreted with an important material for reconstructing human-environment interactions which commonly overlooked archaeology.