Microstratigraphic analysis on a modern central Saharan pastoral campsite. Ovicaprine pellets and stabling floors as ethnographic and archaeological referential data

Here we present an accurate microstratigraphic characterization of sheep/goat dung deposits from an ethnographic pastoral campsite located in SW Fazzan, at the border between Libya and Algeria. Research for referential data on current livestock contexts is essential for correctly interpreting archaeological records documented in ancient livestock spaces. Studies on herbivore faecal remains have played a key role in identifying socio-economic activities (e.g. domestic use of fuel, manuring, stabling or foddering strategies). Soil micromorphology, stable isotopes analysis (δ13C and δ15N, bulk and compound specific), and lipid analysis (n-alkane fraction) have been applied on soil samples and dung pellets in order to obtain reference biosignatures for Caprinae stabling deposits in arid and hyperarid environments, where the biological material as dung preserves very well. Information about pastoral habitat adaptations in this area, taphonomic processes of dung deposits, significant micro-features related to penning (trampling, bedding and presence of dung spherulites, druses, phytoliths, and/or microfragments of coprolites), diet, and seasonality of herd animals is herein shown.