Prehistoric animal use on the Great Hungarian Plain: A synthesis of isotope and residue analyses from the Neolithic and Copper Age

Agricultural change in Copper Age Croatia (ca. 4500–2500 cal B.C)?

“…In conclusion, the continuation in crop agriculture inferred from the data presented here and the fact that recent archaeological evidence advocates small-scale animal husbandry regimes Giblin 2009;Giblin et al 2013, Hoekman-Sites andGiblin 2012) would suggest that agro-pastoral regimes did not change dramatically in light of socio-economic or climatic changes seen during the Copper Age. It is therefore proposed that an agro-pastoral regime dominated in continental Croatia with an equal focus on crops and animal husbandry during the Copper Age, although variations are likely to have existed between the sites.…”

“…weeding, manuring, tillage) in the region are restricted by poor quality datasets (see Bogaard 2004;Kreuz and Schäfer 2011 for reconstructions at Neolithic sites in central Europe). However, the continuation of crop agriculture would tie in with the recent isotope and lipid residue analysis, which suggested the emergence of smaller independent farmsteads with a similar herding strategy to that of the late Neolithic (Giblin 2009(Giblin , 2014Giblin et al 2013, Hoekman-Sites andGiblin 2012).…”

“…Continuation in herd management from the Late Neolithic is supported by stable isotope and lipid studies, which suggest that herding remained small-scale and that dairy use was minimal (Giblin 2009;Giblin et al 2013, Hoekman-Sites andGiblin 2012). They proposed that the cultural changes that occurred at the beginning of the Copper Age were associated with the emergence of smaller independent farmsteads, as well as the possible use of secondary products like manure, rather than a dramatic increase in herds and the use of secondary products (ibid.).…”

Eneolithic textile production (Eneolitička proizvodnja tekstila)

“…As observed on the Eneolithic textile tool samples across South East and Central Europe, the main climate trends are shown to be concurrent with changes in spindle whorl morphology (Grabundžija & Russo 2016). Both sets of data appear to be in accord with the outlined tendencies in subsistence strategies (Hoekman-Sites & Giblin 2012;Gyucha & Duffy 2013). Textile crafting is one of the oldest technologies and the variety of its products was indispensable in everyday life.…”

5000 years of dietary variations of prehistoric farmers in the Great Hungarian Plain

“…The transition from the Late Neolithic to the Copper Age in the GHP was characterised by an overall cultural continuity, but with some changes in settlement patterns [ 27 , 28 ] and subsistence, namely from a reliance on agricultural products to a focus on animal husbandry (mainly cattle). This shift became predominant especially during the Middle Copper Age [ 27 , 29 ].…”