Population, economy and society in the Chassey‐Cortaillod‐Lagozza cultures

Abstract

Abstract This paper estimates numbers of inhabitants for 36 sites of the Chassey‐Cortaillod‐Lagozza cultures, from a variety of data, of which house size is felt to be the most useful. A majority of the sites were probably occupied by 10 to 250 persons. Faunal remains are used both to calculate possible population size and to give information about the economy. The importance of domesticated animals is most marked in the Chasséen area, with either sheep or cattle being most abundant. Cortaillod sites give the richest information about cereals and plants used. The variety of economic responses and the relatively small populations suggest that pre‐tribal and tribal types of social organization may have been present in Southern France, Switzerland and North Italy from about 3800 to 2500 B.C. (radiocarbon dating).