## 3 Results and Discussion
### Phytolith Composition, Taphonomy and Seasonality
B = bulliform flabellate/blocky, EA H = Epidermal appendage hair, EA PA = Epidermal appendage _apillate_ (_apillate_), EA TR = Epidermal appendage trichome (acute bulbosus), ELO DEN = Elongate dendritic, ELO DEN = Elongate dentate, ELO SIN = Elongate sinuate entire (psilate), MC DEN = Multicelled phytoliths of elongate dendritics (silica skeleton with dendritic/_apillate_/short cells/stomata), MC DEN = Multicellular structure of elongate dentates (silica skeleton with dentates/with _apillate_/short cells), MC PSI = Multicellular structure of elongate psilate (smooth), SHC= Short cell (rondel/trapeziform/bilobate). Phylolith amounts range between 0.7 and 23.2 million per 1 g of ashed dung (Table 4). The low proportions of weathered phytoliths (below 6%), together with the presence of multicellular phytoliths (anatomically connected) in most of the samples (up to 55%, cow sample 6-AN-S), points towards generally good preservation conditions of the phytolith records. In general, cow dung samples contained more phytoliths than sheep and pig pellets in most of the assemblages. This is consistent with previously reported quantitative phytolith records from modern dung remains from ruminant herds from Mediterranean areas [9; 10; 26; 27; 29]. In the current study, this is particularly true for dung remains derived from adult or mature cattle, whereas for young animals around one month-old, phytoliths were noted in relatively lower amounts. This is clearly the case for the dung sample from a young cow collected from the property indoor enclosure of the household of [PERSON] (Figure 2a) whose diet was mostly based on lactation, ca. two weeks old (sample 1-AN-S, 0.7 m \(\times\) 1 g/ashed dung, Table 4). Furthermore, the variable phytolith concentrations recorded among the sheep dung pellets, which are the only free-ranging animals that do not require any supplementary fodder and are more prone to browsing on the leaves and bark of shrubs and trees (Figure 2b), may be related to the differential production of phytoliths within dicotyledonous plants in comparison to prolific phytolith production of monocotyledonous plants, despite the similarities recorded on phytolith morphotype assemblages reported below (Figures 3-5). Also of significance are the greater proportions of multicellular or anatomically connected phytoliths within the cattle dung (up to 55%, Table 4), with a diet based on crops from the property for fodder, barley in Algelandaret Nou and oat in Talati de Dalt and therefore represent a consistent and repetitive dietary pattern based on supplementary fodder (Tables 2 and 3). Conversely, the fresh dung pellets from suids represent generally lower phytolith multicellular proportions (between 4-16%, Table 4). These variations could be explained in part due to possible differential digestive process of suids, but particularly to the known fodder which is based on complete barley grains in Algelandaret Nou and barley flour in Es Capell de Ferro (Tables 2 and 3). Further research is needed to evaluate aspects of digestibility and preservation of phytoliths and other remains excreted with dung (e.g., pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs-NPPs), to better establish possible differences between ruminants and suids. Although variations in the species of animal producers, dietary habits and grazing/foddering patterns through the seasons of the year may explain variations on the main  
Figure 5: Relative abundances of main phytolith morphotypes obtained from pig dung samples with indication of sample number-farm-month. -phytolith morphotype records, grass short cells are by far the most dominant, although to a different extent. Short cells represent between 30-70% or more of the total grass phytoliths in the cow samples and around 20-60% in the sheep dung pellets, whereas short cells represent up to only 30% within the pig assemblages in this study (Figures 3-5).