Archaeological deposits in rock shelters have enormous informative potential, particularly in arid environments where organic materials are well preserved. In these areas, sub-fossilized coprolites and dung remains have been identified as valuable proxies for inferences about past environments, subsistence economies and cultural trajectories. Here we present a multidisciplinary analysis of bovid (ovicaprine) coprolites collected from the Early Holocene hunter-gatherer occupation at Takarkori rock shelter (SW Libya, central Sahara). Our results show that Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) were managed as early as ~9500 years cal BP, mostly with the rearing of juveniles. Palynological analysis of individual pellets suggests a seasonal confinement of the animals and the selection of fodder. GIS analysis of coprolite distribution also indicates sophisticated strategies of Barbary sheep “herding” and spatial differentiation of specialized areas within the rock shelter, including the construction and use of a stone-based enclosure for corralling animals. These highly structured and organized forms of control over wild animals are interpreted as a potential co-evolutionary trigger for the subsequent rapid adoption and integration of the incoming pastoral Neolithic economy.

岩石掩体中的考古沉积物具有巨大的信息潜力，特别是在有机材料保存完好的干旱环境中。在这些地区，亚化石化的proprolites和粪便残骸被认为是推论过去环境，生存经济和文化轨迹的有价值的代表。在这里，我们对从Takarkori岩石掩蔽所（西南利比亚西南部利比亚）的全新世早期猎人-采伐者职业中收集的牛科（卵菌蛋白）共prolites进行了多学科分析。我们的结果表明，巴巴里羊（Ammomotragus lervia）早在约BP 9500年就得到了管理。，主要是与幼体一起饲养。对单个颗粒的孢粉学分析表明，应按季节对动物进行限制，并选择饲料。地理信息系统对coprolite分布的分析还表明，巴巴里羊“放牧”的复杂策略和岩石掩体内特定区域的空间分异，包括构造和使用石质围栏饲养动物。这些对野生动物的高度结构化和有组织的控制形式被解释为潜在的共同进化触发因素，随后导致了传入的牧民新石器时代经济的迅速采用和整合。