From Paleolithic Wild Boar to Neolithic Pigs

2020 ◽  
pp. 27-47
Author(s):  
Max D. Price
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Game Management ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Reliable Source ◽  
Early Relationships

Wild boar are dangerous animals that Paleolithic peoples hunted infrequently for the first million years of human-suid contact. Projectile weapons, nets, and the domestication of dogs allowed Natufian hunter-gatherers (12,500–9700 BC) to find in wild boar a reliable source of food. By the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (9700–8500 BC), human populations had developed close relationships with local wild boar. Intensive hunting or perhaps game management took place at Hallan Çemi in Anatolia, and the introduction of wild boar to Cyprus by at latest 9400 BC indicates the willingness of humans to capture and transport wild boar. At the same time, the presence of sedentary villages and the waste they produced likely attracted wild boar to human habitats. These early relationships between people and suids—game management and commensalism—evolved over the course of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic into full-fledged animal husbandry that, by around 7500 BC, had selected for domestic pigs.

scholarly journals Determinación del sexo a través de la métrica dental en cazadores recolectores de la transición pampeano-patagónica oriental / SEX DETERMINATION THROUGH DENTAL METRICS FOR HUNTER-GATHERER GROUPS FROM THE EASTERN PAMPA-PATAGONIAN TRANSITION

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro Luna ◽  
Gustavo Flensborg
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Colorado River ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Dental Metrics ◽  
Sexual Information ◽  
Palabras Clave ◽  
Sexual Determination ◽  
Del Rio

<p>El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la pertinencia de la métrica dental para obtener información sexual en individuos que habitaron el curso inferior del río Colorado durante el Holoceno tardío (ca. 3000-250 años AP), discutir el grado de dimorfismo sexual e identificar las variables cuantitativas de la dentición que permitan discriminar el sexo de nuevos individuos que se incluyan en futuros análisis. Se estudiaron las medidas máximas bucolinguales y mesiodistales del cuello de los dientes correspondientes a 26 individuos adultos. Las variables más dimórficas corresponden al diámetro bucolingual del canino superior y de ambos segundos molares; en estos casos, las diferencias entre los sexos son estadísticamente significativas. Los resultados obtenidos sobre el dimorfismo sexual se ubican en el extremo superior de los valores correspondientes a diferentes poblaciones humanas. Varios individuos que no contaban con información sexual a través de los métodos tradicionales pudieron ser clasificados desde la métrica dental, lo cual da cuenta del importante potencial de las medidas dentales para contribuir a las caracterizaciones paleodemográficas de conjuntos bioarqueológicos, especialmente en contextos perturbados y con escasa integridad esqueletal.</p><p>Palabras clave: métrica dental; determinación sexual; cazadores-recolectores; curso inferior del río Colorado; Holoceno tardío.</p><p>Abstract<br />The aim of this paper is to evaluate the relevance of dental metrics for obtaining sexual information in individuals who inhabited the lower basin of the Colorado River during the Late Holocene (ca. 3000-250 years BP), to discuss the degree of sexual dimorphism and to identify those quantitative variables adequate for sexual determination of new individuals to be included in future studies. The buccolingual and mesiodistal maximum neck diameters of 26 individual adults were studied. The most dimorphic variables correspond to the buccolingual diameter of the upper canine and both second molars; in these cases, sex differences are statistically significant. The results obtained about sexual dimorphism are located at the upper end of the range for different human populations. Several individuals who had no previous sexual information could be classified using these measurements, which accounts for the significant potential of dental metrics in palaeodemographic characterizations, especially in disturbed bioarchaeological samples.</p><p>Keywords: dental metrics; sexual determination; hunter-gatherers; lower basin of the Colorado River; Late Holocene.</p>

Wild boar and domestic pigs in Mesolithic and Neolithic southern Scandinavia

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Rowley-Conwy ◽  
Keith Dobney
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Major Part ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Southern Scandinavia ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Rising Sea Level

In Mesolithic and Neolithic southern Scandinavia, Sus is often the animal found most commonly on archaeological sites, and it undoubtedly formed a major part of the meat diet throughout the prehistoric period. Unfortunately, it is difficult to ascertain whether this meat comes from wild boar (Sus scrofa) or domestic pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica), as archaeologists have only the bones to go on when seeking to determine the status of the animals they study. This contribution will examine bones from a series of sites, most in Denmark but some also in Sweden. Three main areas will be considered. First, Mesolithic animals will be discussed. These are universally regarded as wild boar, and the effects of the rising sea level and consequent fragmentation of their populations will be examined. Second, Danish Neolithic and later domestic animals will be discussed; these could either have been domesticated in Denmark from local wild boar, or could have been introduced from outside along with exotic agricultural items such as wheat or sheep. Third, we will consider Middle Neolithic animals from the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. Wild boar were almost certainly not present on Gotland during the Mesolithic, and the animals must therefore have been introduced by human agency. However, opinion is divided as to whether they were domestic pigs, wild boar introduced to found a hunted population, or a crossbred or feral population. The sites to be examined are listed in Table 7.1. The various sites have been excavated at various times over the last century or so. Some were published shortly after being excavated, but others had to wait many years for publication. Excavation quality has certainly varied, but we believe this will probably not have exerted a major influence on the results we present. Our work is based on the mandibles, and these are large and robust. They are unlikely to be overlooked during even poor-quality excavations, and they survive better than many other parts of the skeleton. Samples are therefore unlikely to be biased either by recovery of preservation. In grouping sites by period, for example ‘Early Mesolithic’, we are certainly conflating sites of somewhat different ages.

scholarly journals Copy Number and Prevalence of Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERVs) in German Wild Boars

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 419
Author(s):  
Luise Krüger ◽  
Milena Stillfried ◽  
Carolin Prinz ◽  
Vanessa Schröder ◽  
Lena Katharina Neubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Cellular Genes ◽  
Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Different Populations

Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of pigs and are transmitted like cellular genes from parents to the offspring. Whereas PERV-A and PERV-B are present in all pigs, PERV-C was found to be in many, but not all pigs. When PERV-C is present, recombination with PERV-A may happen and the PERV-A/C recombinants are characterized by a high replication rate. Until now, nothing has been known about the copy number of PERVs in wild boars and little is known about the prevalence of the phylogenetically youngest PERV-C in ancient wild boars. Here we investigated for the first time the copy number of PERVs in different populations of wild boars in and around Berlin using droplet digital PCR. Copy numbers between 3 and 69 per genome have been measured. A lower number but a higher variability was found compared to domestic pigs, including minipigs reported earlier (Fiebig et al., Xenotransplantation, 2018). The wild boar populations differed genetically and had been isolated during the existence of the Berlin wall. Despite this, the variations in copy number were larger in a single population compared to the differences between the populations. PERV-C was found in all 92 analyzed animals. Differences in the copy number of PERV in different organs of a single wild boar indicate that PERVs are also active in wild boars, replicating and infecting new cells as has been shown in domestic pigs.

scholarly journals Climatic changes cause synchronous population dynamics and adaptive strategies among coastal hunter-gatherers in Holocene northern Europe

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erlend Kirkeng Jørgensen ◽  
Petro Pesonen ◽  
Miikka Tallavaara
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Temporal Frequency ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Human Ecodynamics

Abstract Synchronized demographic and behavioral patterns among distinct populations is a well-known, natural phenomenon. Intriguingly, similar patterns of synchrony occur among prehistoric human populations. However, the drivers of synchronous human ecodynamics are not well understood. Addressing this issue, we review the role of environmental variability in causing human demographic and adaptive responses. As a case study, we explore human ecodynamics of coastal hunter-gatherers in Holocene northern Europe, comparing population, economic, and environmental dynamics in two separate areas (northern Norway and western Finland). Population trends are reconstructed using temporal frequency distributions of radiocarbon-dated and shoreline-dated archaeological sites. These are correlated to regional environmental proxies and proxies for maritime resource use. The results demonstrate remarkably synchronous patterns across population trajectories, marine resource exploitation, settlement pattern, and technological responses. Crucially, the population dynamics strongly correspond to significant environmental changes. We evaluate competing hypotheses and suggest that the synchrony stems from similar responses to shared environmental variability. We take this to be a prehistoric human example of the “Moran effect,” positing similar responses of geographically distinct populations to shared environmental drivers. The results imply that intensified economies and social interaction networks have limited impact on long-term hunter-gatherer population trajectories beyond what is already proscribed by environmental drivers.

Hunter-gatherers on the best-seller list: Steven Pinker and the “Bellicose School's” treatment of forager violence

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lethal Violence ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Hunting And Gathering ◽  
History Of ◽  
Early Farmers ◽  
Philosophical Debates

Purpose – The question of violence in hunter-gatherer society has animated philosophical debates since at least the seventeenth century. Steven Pinker has sought to affirm that civilization, is superior to the state of humanity during its long history of hunting and gathering. The purpose of this paper is to draw upon a series of recent studies that assert a baseline of primordial violence by hunters and gatherers. In challenging this position the author draws on four decades of ethnographic and historical research on hunting and gathering peoples. Design/methodology/approach – At the empirical heart of this question is the evidence pro- and con- for high rates of violent death in pre-farming human populations. The author evaluates the ethnographic and historical evidence for warfare in recorded hunting and gathering societies, and the archaeological evidence for warfare in pre-history prior to the advent of agriculture. Findings – The view of Steven Pinker and others of high rates of lethal violence in hunters and gatherers is not sustained. In contrast to early farmers, their foraging precursors lived more lightly on the land and had other ways of resolving conflict. With little or no fixed property they could easily disperse to diffuse conflict. The evidence points to markedly lower levels of violence for foragers compared to post-Neolithic societies. Research limitations/implications – This conclusion raises serious caveats about the grand evolutionary theory asserted by Steven Pinker, Richard Wrangham and others. Instead of being “killer apes” in the Pleistocene and Holocene, the evidence indicates that early humans lived as relatively peaceful hunter-gathers for some 7,000 generations, from the emergence of Homo sapiens up until the invention of agriculture. Therefore there is a major gap between the purported violence of the chimp-like ancestors and the documented violence of post-Neolithic humanity. Originality/value – This is a critical analysis of published claims by authors who contend that ancient and recent hunter-gatherers typically committed high levels of violent acts. It reveals a number of serious flaws in their arguments and use of data.

scholarly journals Accreditation Procedure for Trichinella spp. Detection in Slaughterhouses: The Experience of an Internal Laboratory in Italy

Foods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Schirone ◽  
Pierina Visciano ◽  
Alberto Maria Aldo Olivastri ◽  
Maria Paola Sgalippa ◽  
Antonello Paparella
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Proficiency Testing ◽  
Zoonotic Disease ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Post Mortem Examination ◽  
Commission Regulation ◽  
Training Courses ◽  
Undercooked Meat

Trichinellosis is a severe foodborne zoonotic disease due to the consumption of undercooked meat containing Trichinella spp. larvae. According to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1375/2015, domestic pigs, farmed wild boar, and horses must be tested for the presence of the parasite in the muscles as part of post-mortem examination. In this study, the accreditation procedure and the maintenance of the certificate for internal laboratory attached to a slaughterhouse are described. The main advantages of such accreditation are represented by the possibility to obtain fast results in order to process carcasses quickly, whereas the difficulties for the technician are linked to performing proficiency testing and following training courses. This program can be considered particularly useful for surveillance and food safety purposes.

Immunohistochemical evidence of leptin and its receptor in the carpal glands of domestic pigs and wild boar

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-e14
Author(s):  
Cecilia Dall'Aglio ◽  
Francesca Mercati ◽  
Luisa Pascucci ◽  
Cinzia Bazzucchi ◽  
Piero Ceccarelli
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Immunohistochemical Evidence

scholarly journals Author Correction: Mating of escaped domestic pigs with wild boar and possibility of their offspring migration after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donovan Anderson ◽  
Rio Toma ◽  
Yuki Negishi ◽  
Kei Okuda ◽  
Hiroko Ishiniwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant Accident ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

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