Abstract
The movement of livestock across and within landscapes is increasingly being recognized as common in northern European prehistoric contexts, and was performed for various purposes. However, almost nothing is known about the movement of livestock in the earliest phase of the southern Scandinavian Neolithic Funnel Beaker Culture (ENI, TRB, 4000–3500cal BC), or even if such movement is indicated. In this study, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) teeth from the early Neolithic sites Almhov, Sweden (N=6) and Havnelev, Denmark (N=7) were analyzed in order to determine the presence and character of potential livestock movement in this period. Tooth enamel strontium isotope analyses indicated a range of variation in local origin of the animals: some probably local and some non-local. Importantly, both sites yielded an individual exhibiting strontium isotope ratios indicating movement from elsewhere and over a body of water via boat. Although based on a small number of cattle, the movement of livestock is indicated in the earliest Neolithic in the region and provides evidence of social, economic, or other connections over substantial distances.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundLittle is known about animal husbandry in the first five-hundred years of Scandinavia's Neolithic (Funnel Beaker Culture, Early Neolithic I, c. 4000–3500 cal BC)
Thirteen strontium isotope ratios were obtained from domestic cattle molars from Havnelev (N = 7) and Almhov (N = 6) (Table 1)
We have presented evidence that suggests more local movement of cattle within the early Neolithic landscape
Summary
Introduction and backgroundLittle is known about animal husbandry in the first five-hundred years of Scandinavia's Neolithic (Funnel Beaker Culture, Early Neolithic I, c. 4000–3500 cal BC). Any new understanding of practices is desirable as the character of early farming has the strong potential to inform current knowledge of agricultural origins in the region and the role of domestic animal species in human subsistence economies. Information concerning the movement of livestock may permit interpretations to be made concerning the interplay between husbandry, land-use, and society. It is increasingly apparent that the movement of livestock across landscapes was a characteristic practice of northern European prehistoric societies (Sjögren and Price, 2012; Towers et al, 2010; Viner et al, 2010). 3300–2400 cal BC) cattle (Bos taurus) were circulated in central Sweden (Sjögren and Price, 2012), but the antiquity of this practice in the region is unclear. It may not be possible to determine the precise purpose or purposes of such movement
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