In this paper seven researchers working in the southern Levant present their views as well as new data on the origins of domestic animals in this region. The papers cover the chronological development of this phenomenon, from the first sedentary communities in the Natufian, to the advent of the first domestic caprines in the Mid/Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B. In addition, the domestication of cattle and pig in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic С is discussed as is the development of pastoral economies in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic C/Pottery Neolithic, when caprine herds were first introduced into the eastern and southern desertic regions. Other issues raised are the possible processes involved in domesticating animals, the problem of autochthonous domestication versus the introduction of domesticates into the region and the influence of the unique physical conditions of the southern Levant on the domestication process.

In this paper we have investigated the influence of climate change during the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene on body size of four artiodactyl species : gazelle (Gazella gazella), wild bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and aurochs (Bos primigenius) derived from archaeological sites in the southern Levant. For this purpose a size index was calculated. The advantages of this method over other metrical approaches is discussed. The results of this study show that size fluctuations in all four species follow the same general trend with a marked size reduction between the Kebaran and Early Natufian. A further, but less marked reduction followed for Gazella, Capra and Sus in the PPNA with a size increase in the Late PPNB for Gazella, which is less marked in Capra and Sus. Some of the size fluctuations may be correlated with shifts in the climatic record of this region, while other fluctuations may be ascribed to biological or anthropogenic events.

The agrimi goat Capra aegagrus cretica is unique to Crete and its offshore islands. It has been identi®ed as a sub-species of the wild bezoar goat Capra aegagrus aegagrus Erxleben, 1777, which it closely resembles in horn shape, body form and coloration. This classi®cation has been disputed by some researchers who claim that the agrimi are feral goats, derived from early domestic stock brought to the island by the ®rst Neolithic settlers. In order to clarify this issue, DNA analyses (cytochrome b and D loop sequences) were carried out on tissue of live and skeletonized agrimi and compared to sequences of wild and domestic caprines. Results conclusively show the agrimi to be a feral animal, that clades with domestic goats (Capra hircus) rather than with wild Asiatic bezoar. This study demonstrates that morphometric criteria do not necessarily re¯ect genetic af®nities, and that the taxonomic classi®cation of agrimi should be revised.

- Les résultats de l'étude archéozoologique de trois sites de Damascene, Tel Aswad, Ghoraifé et Ramad montrent que deux faits y sont bien établis : l'existence d'un proto-élevage de la Chèvre pendant tout le PPNB et l'introduction du Mouton domestique vers 6 500 B.C. Celte séquence étant prise comme repère zoogéographique et chronologique, on intègre des données déjà publiées de sites d'Israël ou de Jordanie, d'une part, et d'autre part celles qui concernent les plus anciens moutons domestiques connus dans le croissant fertile. Un modèle de l'évolution de la relation Homme/Animal pendant le VIIe millénaire est ainsi proposé pour le Levant sud. Le proto-élevage de Capra aegagrus est pratiqué par nombre d'établissements au PPNB. Pendant la deuxième moitié du V\Ý millénaire, des groupes mobiles, considérés comme représentant un pastoralisme primaire pouvant avoir été concomitant des débuts de la domestication du Mouton en Anatolic ou au Zagros, introduisent, dans un mouvement Nord Sud qui semble suivre la zone semi aride, le Mouton domestique, dont l'élevage remplace désormais le proto-élevage de Capra. Une situation assez complexe de contacts entre groupes sédentaires ou nomades est ainsi créée, de laquelle pourra résulter, à la fin du PPNB, un pastoralisme secondaire né, lui, d'un effritement des établissements sédentaires.

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