scholarly journals The origins and evolution of pig domestication in prehistoric Spain

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelos Hadjikoumis
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Biometric Data ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Husbandry Practices ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Pig Management ◽  
Pig Husbandry

From the main four domesticates (cattle, sheep, goat, and pig), the pig has only recently attracted scientific interest worthy of its archaeological importance. Synthetic works studying wild or domestic pigs in European regions such as Italy, Sardinia/Corsica and Poland have provided important insights often missed by site-focused zooarchaeological reports. This thesis constitutes the first study focusing on pigs and their interactions with humans in Spain from pre-Neolithic times until the Iron Age. Crucial archaeological issues addressed include, when and how pig domestication occurred, how it was integrated in the neolithisation of Iberia, and how it evolved in post-Neolithic periods. The relationships between humans and wild boar as well as between domestic pigs and their wild counterparts are also explored.A large volume of biometric data on postcranial and dental elements, combined with age and sex data of pig populations, allow reliable analyses and well-informed interpretations. These data are explored graphically and described to refine the picture of prehistoric pig populations in Spain and generate inferences on their relationship with humans. Biometric data from other countries and ethnoarchaeological data of traditional pig husbandry practices from southwest Iberia and other Mediterranean regions are analysed to enhance the interpretational value of the Spanish zooarchaeological data.The results support the appearance of domestic pigs from the early 6th millennium cal. BC in most parts of Spain and suggest ample diversity in early pig husbandry practices. By the end of the Neolithic, domestic pigs were present across Spain and more important than hunted wild boar. From the Late/Final Neolithic onwards, domestic pigs were morphologically distinguishable from wild boar on population level. The data also suggest an increase in wild boar hunting in the Bronze Age followed by further intensification of pig management in the Iron Age. Possible explanations and implications of these findings are discussed.

Cyprus, Sardinia and Sicily: A Maritime Perspective on Interaction, Connectivity and Imagination in Mediterranean Prehistory

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
A. Bernard Knapp ◽  
Anthony Russell ◽  
Peter van Dommelen
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Culturally Diverse ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Trade Route ◽  
Direct Trade

In this study, we outline a maritime perspective on interaction in the Late Bronze/early Iron Age Mediterranean. In response to what has elsewhere been termed the ‘maximalist’ approach, which foregrounds direct, long-distance trading connections between distant Mediterranean regions as a key feature of Late Bronze Age exchange systems, we propose a more nuanced, ‘minimalist’ and argue that notions of contact, connectivity and mobility need to be carefully distinguished if we wish to discuss both the material and social dimensions of maritime mobility. In particular, we critique the prominently proposed, allegedly direct trade route between Sardinia and Cyprus. The network we suggest hinges on multiply connected nodes, where a variety of social actors take part in the creation and maintenance of maritime connections. By unpacking several such nodes between Sardinia and Cyprus, we demonstrate that simply asserting the dominance of Sardinian, Cypriot or Aegean mariners falls short of the complex archaeological evidence and eschews possible social interpretations. In conclusion, we submit that maritime connectivity is an inherently social activity, and that a culturally diverse prehistoric Mediterranean was connected by multiple interlocking and overlapping networks.

scholarly journals Pigs and humans in Early Neolithic South-eastern Europe

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 38-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna De Groene ◽  
Petar Zidarov ◽  
Nedko Elenski ◽  
Youri Van den Hurk ◽  
Thijs Van Kolfschoten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
Dietary Analysis ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Neolithic Site ◽  
South Eastern Europe ◽  
Pig Management

The Bulgarian site Džuljunica-Smărdeš, dating to 6205-5529 cal. BC, is one of the oldest Neolithic sites in Europe. Both domestic cattle and caprines are present in the zooarchaeological assemblage, but Sus, in contrast, is extremely rare. It is not known if the earliest Neolithic people in Europe did rear domestic pigs, practised some form of pig management, or only hunted wild boar. This research investigates the human pig relationships, using biometry, kill-off patterns and isotopic dietary analysis. With this integrated methodological approach, it might be possible to characterize human-suid relationships in this pivotal Early Neolithic site with greater accuracy. Understanding this relationship at this site contributes to the broader debate on how Neolithisation and domesticates spread through Europe, and which bio-cultural mechanisms were responsible for differential patterns of animal exploitation.

scholarly journals Multiple paternity in domestic pigs under equally probable natural matings – a case study in the endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed

2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Menéndez ◽  
I. Álvarez ◽  
I. Fernández ◽  
B. de la Roza ◽  
F. Goyache
Keyword(s):  
Mating System ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Multiple Paternity ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Hybrid Vigour ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Statistical Confidence ◽  
Total Dna ◽  
Natural Mating

Abstract. Here we provide evidence of multiple paternities in naturally mated sows under conditions ensuring that (a) sows had the same probability of being mated by any of the available boars and (b) no differences in hybrid vigour existed. Total DNA was obtained from 19 Gochu Asturcelta piglets from three different sows, each with the same chance of natural mating with two different boars. A set of 20 microsatellites were typed on all the individuals. The program CERVUS was used to asses the informative ability of the microsatellite set and to perform paternity assignment. Allelic frequencies at population level were obtained using a total of 141 Gochu Asturcelta individuals. Offspring were always assigned to a candidate boar with high statistical confidence. All litters had different parents. Our results show that multiple paternities are possible in domestic pigs under natural mating. Furthermore, the current study can be useful to further understand the mating system of the wild boar.

scholarly journals Pig Hunting and Husbandry in Prehistoric Italy: a Contribution to the Domestication Debate

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 193-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umberto Albarella ◽  
Antonio Tagliacozzo ◽  
Keith Dobney ◽  
Peter Rowley-Conwy
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Bronze Age ◽  
Early Bronze Age ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Demographic Pressure ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
Gradual Process ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Pig Husbandry ◽  
Different Parts

In this article the evidence of pig exploitation in the prehistory of the Italian peninsula and Sicily is presented. Though some differences in pig morphology seem to have existed between different parts of the country, a broadly consistent diachronic pattern of change has emerged. In the Mesolithic fairly small wild boars (with bones quite large in relation to the teeth) lived in Italy. For most of the Neolithic pigs of a similar size and shape could be found across the peninsula but signs that a few changes in systems of pig exploitation had started occurring can be found at several sites. This is interpreted as most probably indicating the beginning of a slow and gradual process of domestication of local animals. The hypothesis that early and middle Neolithic pig husbandry relied mainly on imported animals can be fairly confidently refuted. Sometime during the late Neolithic and/or the early Bronze Age, practices of pig husbandry seem to have changed throughout the country, and a much clearer separation appears between the wild and domestic populations. The average size of domestic pigs decreased, probably as a consequence of a closer confinement of domestic herds, but wild boar size seems to have increased, possibly as a consequence of climatic change or of a release in hunting pressure. Recent Italian wild boars (of the traditional Maremman type) are, however, as small as their Mesolithic counterparts, a possible indication that habitat fragmentation caused by human demographic pressure brought about a further change in wild boar size.

scholarly journals Pigs and humans in Early Neolithic South-eastern Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 38-51
Author(s):  
Donna De Groene ◽  
Petar Zidarov ◽  
Nedko Elenski ◽  
Youri Van den Hurk ◽  
Thijs Van Kolfschoten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
Dietary Analysis ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Neolithic Site ◽  
South Eastern Europe ◽  
Pig Management

The Bulgarian site Džuljunica-Smărdeš, dating to 6205-5529 cal. BC, is one of the oldest Neolithic sites in Europe. Both domestic cattle and caprines are present in the zooarchaeological assemblage, but Sus, in contrast, is extremely rare. It is not known if the earliest Neolithic people in Europe did rear domestic pigs, practised some form of pig management, or only hunted wild boar. This research investigates the human pig relationships, using biometry, kill-off patterns and isotopic dietary analysis. With this integrated methodological approach, it might be possible to characterize human-suid relationships in this pivotal Early Neolithic site with greater accuracy. Understanding this relationship at this site contributes to the broader debate on how Neolithisation and domesticates spread through Europe, and which bio-cultural mechanisms were responsible for differential patterns of animal exploitation.

The Excavation of a Settlement of the Later Bronze Age and Iron Age at Myrehead, Falkirk District

1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
G J Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Ring Groove ◽  
Domestic Activity ◽  
First Millennium ◽  
First Millennium Bc ◽  
Actual Settlement

SUMMARY Myrehead has revealed the eroded remnants of activity from the Beaker period (Period A) onwards, with actual settlement evinced only from about the early first millennium be. The three houses and the cooking pits of Period B may have been constructed and used sequentially. This open settlement was probably replaced during the mid first millennium bc, possibly without a break, by a palisaded enclosure (Period C), which may have contained a ring-groove house and a four-post structure. Continued domestic activity (Period D) was suggested by a single pit outside the enclosure, dated to the late first millennium bc/early first millennium ad. The limited evidence of the economy of the settlements suggests a mixed farming system.

From the bronze age to the iron age

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Grecian ◽  
Safwaan Adam ◽  
Akheel Syed
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
The Bronze Age

The bronze headbands of Prehistoric Lofkënd and their Aegean and Balkan connections

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 33-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Early Bronze Age ◽  
Early Iron Age ◽  
Southeast Europe ◽  
Young Females ◽  
The Many ◽  
Votive Offerings

This paper begins with an overview of the bronze headbands from the prehistoric (Late Bronze to Early Iron Age) burial tumulus of Lofkënd in Albania, which were found among the richest tombs of the cemetery, all of them of young females or children. It is argued that these individuals represent a class of the special dead, those who have not attained a critical rite de passage: marriage. In their funerary attire these individuals go to the grave as brides, married to death. The significance of the Lofkënd headbands is reviewed, as is their shape and decoration, but it is their context that contributes to a better understanding of Aegean examples, including the many bronze, gold, and silver headbands found in tombs from the Early Bronze Age through the Early Iron Age, as well as those dedicated as votive offerings in sanctuaries. In addition to discussing the evidence for headbands in the Aegean and much of southeast Europe, this paper also attempts to uncover the word used in this early period in Greece for these distinctive items of personal ornament. In memory of Berit Wells.

Nuragic Settlement Dynamics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cezary Namirski
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Early Iron Age ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Settlement Dynamics ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Bronze Age

The book is a study of the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Nuragic settlement dynamics in two selected areas of the east coast Sardinia, placing them in a wider context of Central Mediterranean prehistory. Among the main issues addressed are the relationship between settlement and ritual sites, the use of coastline, and a chronology of settlement.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document