The Emirate of Córdoba (756–929 AD) and the introduction of the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in Iberia: the remains from Muge, Portugal

We describe new finds of Herpestes ichneumon (Egyptian mongoose) from an archaeological context in Portugal, directly 14C dated to c. 800 AD. This is at least two centuries older than a previously reported find of this species from Andalusia (southern Spain; Riquelme-Cantal et al., 2008). Our finding provides further support to the hypothesis that the Muslims introduced this animal to the Iberian Peninsula. In particular, we suggest that Berber settlers might have brought it some time during the Umayyad conquest of Iberia or with the establishment of the Emirate of Córdoba.

► We describe new finds of Herpestes ichneumon from an archaeological site in Portugal. ► Four bones of H. ichneumon were found in two of the Mesolithic shell middens of Muge. ► One ulna was directly 14C dated to 780–970 Cal AD. ► This is the oldest known directly dated fossil of H. ichneumon in Europe. ► We suggest that Muslims brought the species to Iberia during the Emirate of Córdoba.