Abstract:

The remains of marine molluscs found in the recent excavations (2012-2019) of the Mallorcan Iron Age (Talayotic and Balearic period) Necropolis of Son Real are described here. This cemetery represents a unique funerary space in Mallorca, since the burials were carried out in tombs that miniaturize buildings of high social significance, such as talayots or navetes. The study of these remains has focused on taphonomic aspects, apart from thetaxonomic and biometric, and it is complemented by the report published in the doctoral thesis of one of us in 1998. One of the most outstanding results of the analysis of the different contexts is the scarce presence of marine molluscs in the deposits, especially when the proximity to the sea is taken into account. This contrasts with the numerous elements found in two very close and linked sites, such as the necropolis of Illot des Porros and the sanctuary of Punta des Patró. Despite this, more than their number, the most outstanding feature is related to the specific location of the remains themselves. Some of them clearly appear in interment contexts and they are possibly linked to funerary rituals, similarly to the interpretation given to the scarce remains of vertebrates found.