Stable isotope investigations of the Prehistory of the Western Mediterranean have increased exponentially during the last decade. This region has a high number of Mesolithic and Neolithic carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio data available compared with other world areas, resulting from the interest in the "transition" between hunter-gathering and farming. This type of analysis is important as one of the few tools that give direct information on the poorly understood dietary transition from hunter-gatherer to agro-pastoralist subsistence in the Mediterranean Basin. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis on bulk collagen are especially useful for exploring marine vs. terrestrial protein input and therefore assess marine resource exploitation by these two different lifestyles. Gathering together all isotopic data for these chronologies we show that the Western Mediterranean underwent a unique/distinct Neolithisation process. These data show a gradual dietary shift in aquatic resource consumption during the transition to farming that contrasts to elsewhere in Europe.

This essay, originally drafted in Catalan, has been translated and revised for publication by Monica H. Green and Carol Symes.1 Museu Comarcal de l'Urgell-Tàrrega, "Tragèdia al Call. Tàrrega 1348" [accessed April 23, 2014]. A catalogue of the exhibition is available at . All skeletal samples referenced in this study derive from the medieval Jewish cemetery of Les Roquetes and are curated at the Museu Comarcal de l'Urgell-Tàrrega. There is no identifying information associated with any of these individuals (i.e., there are no burial records for this cemetery or coffin plates that identify interred individuals by name), and thus this research does not constitute any risk to living descendants. All the research at the site has been conducted in accordance with the Llei 9/1993, de 30 de setembre, del Patrimoni Cultural Català and the Decret 78/2002, de 5 de març, del Reglament de protecció del patrimoni arqueològic i Paleontològic. 2 Much of this local documentation, created by Christian authorities, was assembled and published by López (1956); see below.

No abstract

In 2007, excavations in a suburb of the Catalan town of Tàrrega identified the possible location of the medieval Jewish cemetery. Subsequent excavations confirmed that multiple individuals buried in six communal graves had suffered violent deaths. The present study argues that these communal graves can be connected to a well-documented assault on the Jews of Tàrrega that occurred in 1348: long known as one of the earliest episodes of anti-Jewish violence related to the Black Death, but never before corroborated by physical remains. This study places textual sources, both Christian and Jewish, alongside the recently discovered archeological evidence of the violence.

Este es un artículo de acceso abierto distribuido bajo los términos de la licencia de uso y distribución "Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional" (CC BY 4.0) RESUMENEn 1904 se realizaron los primeros hallazgos de "cabezas cortadas" en el oppidum ibérico de El Puig Castellar de Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona) y se interpretaron como trofeos bélicos, sin embargo, solo una mínima parte de los mismos había sido dada a conocer sucintamente hasta ahora. Este estudio presenta los resultados del estudio antropológico basado en su descripción, determinación de edad y sexo, estudio patológico y de marcas. Los resultados amplían el número de individuos inicial de 5 a 12. Se trata de dos cráneos enclavados, tres con signos de desollamiento y diversos fragmentos craneales y mandibulares con evidencias de lesiones por arma blanca. Finalmente se valora el tratamiento que sufrieron dichos cráneos para su exhibición aportando nuevos resultados significativos que contribuyen a caracterizar, desde el punto de vista físico, a las tan desconocidas poblaciones iberas, además se cuestiona la teoría que asigna las "cabezas cortadas" exclusivamente a guerreros vencidos en batalla sobre la base de episodios del ámbito céltico descritos por las fuentes escritas grecolatinas (Posidonio de Apamea). ABSTRACTThe severed heads first discovered in 1904 in the Iberian oppidum of El Puig Castellar, in Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona), were assumed to be trophies of war, but until now only a few of them received brief publication. This paper presents the results of an anthropological study based on their description, determination of age and sex, signs of pathology, and cut marks. These results serve to raise the number of individuals from the initial count of five to twelve. The find consists of two nailed skulls, three with signs of skinning, and several skull and jaw fragments with signs of stab wounds. Finally, an appraisal is made of how the skulls were prepared for display. Significant new results are presented that help define the physical characteristic of the hitherto little known Iberian population. Objections are made to the theory , based on episodes in the Celtic domain described in Greek and Latin written sources (e.g., Posidonius of Apamea), that the severed heads belonged exclusively to warriors defeated in battle.