Shepherds and caves in the Karst of Istria (Croatia).

Geoarchaeological and archaeozoological studies have been applied to the study of the post-Mesolithic sequence of Pupićina Cave (Istria, Croatia), producing high quality results about the use of the site, and showing that a strict integration of these two methods can greatly improve the general understanding of the archaeological context. The use of the cave was mostly pastoral with a markedly seasonal pattern of use from the Middle Neolithic onwards; seasonality may have been less strong only in the Late Neolithic. Mostly ovicaprines, but also cattle and pigs were stabled/penned inside the cave; good evidences of limited domestic activities can also be observed.