Cattle and pig husbandry in the British Neolithic

Viner, Sarah

doi:10.2307/j.ctvh1dhqm.20

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These authors suggest that the number of substantial timber buildings so far discovered that date to this period is limited, and question the interpretation that they functioned as permanently occupied farmsteads [23]. Rather than a fully arable economy, subsistence practice is instead proposed to have been predicated on intensive dairying [24][25][26][27][28][29] and routine exploitation of wild plant species as well as cereals [30][31][32][33]. This is in turn considered by some authors to demonstrate that the transition to agriculture occurred through adoption of selected elements of a farming economy by local Mesolithic populations, who retained a mobile way of life thought to be characteristic of hunter-gatherers [8,34,35].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotopic evidence for residential mobility of farming communities during the transition to agriculture in Britain

Neil

Evans²,

Montgomery

et al. 2016

R. Soc. open sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Development of agriculture is often assumed to be accompanied by a decline in residential mobility, and sedentism is frequently proposed to provide the basis for economic intensification, population growth and increasing social complexity. In Britain, however, the nature of the agricultural transition (ca 4000 BC) and its effect on residence patterns has been intensely debated. Some authors attribute the transition to the arrival of populations who practised a system of sedentary intensive mixed farming similar to that of the very earliest agricultural regimes in central Europe, ca 5500 BC, with cultivation of crops in fixed plots and livestock keeping close to permanently occupied farmsteads. Others argue that local hunter–gatherers within Britain adopted selected elements of a farming economy and retained a mobile way of life. We use strontium and oxygen isotope analysis of tooth enamel from an Early Neolithic burial population in Gloucestershire, England, to evaluate the residence patterns of early farmers. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that early farming communities in Britain were residentially mobile and were not fully sedentary. Results highlight the diverse nature of settlement strategies associated with early farming in Europe and are of wider significance to understanding the effect of the transition to agriculture on residence patterns.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotopic evidence for residential mobility of farming communities during the transition to agriculture in Britain

Neil

Evans²,

Montgomery

et al. 2016

R. Soc. open sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To further demonstrate the effectiveness of the biometrical approach used in this PhD research, in this sub-section several comparable studies from Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia, and Britain are reviewed. However, the only works comparable in scale to the present research are those by Hadjikoumis (2010; for Spain and Viner for Britain (Viner, 2011;Viner-Daniels, 2014).…”

Section: Studies On Pig Domestication In Europementioning

confidence: 47%

Section: 2c Britainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of Britain, Viner (Viner, 2011;Viner-Daniels, 2014) studied the evolution of pig management in the Neolithic from mainly a biometrical perspective. In Britain, the main domesticated animals appeared, seemingly abruptly, around 3,800-3,700 BC (Viner, 2011). From a series of Mesolithic and Early Neolithic sites, and one Late Neolithic site (Durrington Walls), Viner analysed the age and sex profiles, and biometrical data of pig remains, in order to identify temporal trends in the management of these animals.…”

Section: 2c Britainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a trend towards the use of younger animals was detected in the Early Neolithic, and the Late Neolithic data showed that most animals were killed before even reaching maturity. Viner interpreted this slow evolution as an indication of the continuing change in pig management during the Neolithic, although the author also acknowledged that the Late Neolithic evidence came from the site of Durrington Walls, which has been construed as having a ceremonial function, and therefore the pig age profiles from this site could be reflecting this fact (Viner, 2011).…”

Section: 2c Britainmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Origins and Evolution of Pig Domestication in Italy: A regional and diachronic study of husbandry practices

Tecce¹

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The emergence of the Neolithic in Europe represents a key moment in human history, and the domestication of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the emergence of the pig (Sus domesticus) a fundamental aspect of that process. In Italy, the phenomenon of pig domestication in prehistory is still not entirely understood. The main objective of this PhD is to contribute to the understanding of the origins and development of pig domestication in prehistoric Italy, from a wide regional scale and a diachronic perspective. Some key archaeological questions addressed in this research concern how and when the process of pig domestication commenced in Italy, how it evolved thereafter, and how it compares and integrates with the wider European and Middle Eastern scenarios.The main methodology used to tackle this objective is the collection of comparable data from several Italian prehistoric sites in order to detect patterns of regional and chronological change, from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. The analysis relies mainly on biometrical data, but it is complemented with evidence of kill-off patterns and sex ratios, in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the domestication event.The results support the view that a domesticated pig occurred in Italy from the Early Neolithic, although it only became morphologically distinct from the Late Neolithic onwards. This change in pig size and shape seems to signify a shift from an earlier loose management strategy of pig keeping to a close domestic control of pigs in later times, articulating with historical changes in Italian societies. The Italian pig domestication process shares similarities and differences with other European and Middle Eastern cases, highlighting the diverse trajectories this process took in different areas, in tune with the regional particularities of the spread of the Neolithic in Europe.preferred to those who think they've found it.Terry Pratchett -Monstrous Regiment This PhD would not have been achieved without the kind support and assistance of several people, both in Italy and the United Kingdom. This PhD was made possible by the funding of the University of Sheffield's University Prize Scholarship, which was awarded to me at the beginning of this journey. My academic experience in Sheffield has always been first class, with both staff and fellow students being always friendly and helpful, and I am very proud to be counted amongst their alumni.First and foremost, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my supervisor and good friend, Umberto Albarella, who has offered me immense help and support all throughout my PhD, demonstrating a great deal of patience and understanding not only on the academic but also on the personal side of the work. He also very kindly made available his extensive pig datasets for inclusion in this project. Many thanks also to my second supervisor, Gianna Ayala, who was also of great help and assistance.In my first data collection trip to Rome, I was warmly welcomed by Maurizio Moscoloni and by Claudia Minitti. My deepest t...

show abstract

Human Impact on North Atlantic Biota

Mainland

Harland

2021

Biogeography in the Sub‐Arctic

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cattle and pig husbandry in the British Neolithic

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Isotopic evidence for residential mobility of farming communities during the transition to agriculture in Britain

Isotopic evidence for residential mobility of farming communities during the transition to agriculture in Britain

The Origins and Evolution of Pig Domestication in Italy: A regional and diachronic study of husbandry practices

Human Impact on North Atlantic Biota

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About