Special Studies: Bone Consumption by Pigs in a Contemporary Serbian Village: Implications for the Interpretation of Prehistoric Faunal Assemblages

Abstract

This article presents the results of recent ethnoarchaeological research concerned with the destructive effects of domestic pigs upon bone assemblages. Bones of cattle, pigs, and sheep were fed to domestic pigs in a modern Serbian village. Over 90% of the sheep and pig bones, but less than 10% of the cattle bones were consumed by the pigs. Pigs prefer the bones of smaller species and bones or bone parts that have a higher content of soft cancellous material. The results demonstrate that pigs, and not only dogs, were important taphonomic agents in early and historical village sites throughout the New and Old Worlds.