Neolithic to Bronze Age economy and animal management revealed using analyses lipid residues of pottery vessels and faunal remains at El Portalón de Cueva Mayor (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

El Portalón de Cueva Mayor located in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Atapuerca, is a unique reference Late Prehistory archaeological site Iberian Peninsula, covering some 7 kyr Holocene occupations. Herein we present study lipid residue analyses from 108 pottery sherds coupled with faunal kill-off patterns Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age periods to gain new insights into natural product exploitation animal management. The molecular isotopic extracts provide evidence for use carcass dairy products at site. construction profiles ovicaprids (sheep/goat) bovines (cattle) complementary management site, suggesting that both were exploited their milk. diachronic evolution identified show no major variations livestock husbandry or diet due cultural environmental change. Changing uses different activities cave over time (domestic, funerary, etc.) are likely responsible subtle differences results. This provides first human subsistence strategies through Mayor.