La malacofauna de la villa romana de Pla de Palol (Platja d’Aro, Baix Empordà)

The remains of malacofauna that are studied in this paper come from the Roman villa of Pla de Palol, which was constructed a few metres from Artigues beach (Castell-Platja d’Aro, Baix Empordà). The first phase of this establishment can be dated to the first half of the first century B.C. During its existence, the villa was the object of various reforms until it was abandoned at the end of the fifth century. In all cases, the remains of molluscs were found between strata of ground-levelling, collapses, abandonment or filling in of pits of various types, all in a secondary position in relation to their main use and original space. The 901 remains of molluscs that were examined in this study came from the archaeological excavations at the end of the twentieth century. Twenty-three species were found. The most abundant was the oyster Ostrea edulis and the second most abundant the limpet Patella ferruginea. Both species were probably consumed and collected by hand. Other species that were consumed would be the muricid gastropod (Hexaplex trunculus and Bolinus brandaris), collected with traps, using bait such as Phorcus turbinatus, Cerithium vulgatum or Cerastoderma edule (all present in the sample). In addition, the bivalves Spondylus gaederopus and Glycymeris bimaculata had also a remarkable presence. Altogether, the most abundant type of species was associated with rocky, detrital and sands of medium thickness seabed, but not with fine or muddy sands. This seems to indicate that no dragnet fishing activity took place at this site. Therefore, the shells of the other species were probably collected as remains that had been washed up on the beaches ; Los restos de malacofauna que se estudian en este artículo proceden de la villa romana de Pla de Palol, construida a escasos metros de la playa de n’Artigues (Castell-Platja d’Aro, Baix Empordà). La primera fase de este establecimiento se puede remontar a la primera mitad del siglo I a.C. A lo largo de su existencia la villa fue objeto de diversas reformas hasta que a ...