“From May to Saint Michael, I want to be a shepherd of sheep”: the structural analysisof the agricultural system of Gérgal

Abstract

This article deals with the presence of transhumant livestock in the southeastern area of the Sierra de Los Filabres. The analysis carried out in 2023 on a large complex of stone structures located in the town of Gérgal (Almería) is shown, which until now had no previous studies. The application of a methodology based on Landscape Archeology and Architectural Archeology, together with the use of information and communication technologies through a Geographic Information System (GIS), have allowed us to obtain novel data about the magnitude and nature of these historical structures, and interpret them as part of a transhumant livestock production system. This in turn has allowed us to understand in greater depth the importance of livestock farming in the study area, confirming the existence of a large-scale transhumant model during modern times.