Size Does Matter: An Archaeozoological Study on Dutch Bronze Age Suids Using Osteometric Analysis

This thesis presents an osteometrical analysis of Sus scrofa (wild boar) and Sus domesticus (domesticated pig) in order to assess the contribution of the wild and domestic forms as well as the size of animals during the Bronze Age in selected Dutch sites. It investigated the role of domestic pigs and wild boars in the Netherlands during its Bronze Age (2000 B.C.E. – 800 B.C.E.) in order to further understand the human-suid relationship through subsistence practices. It incorporated the “Logratio Size Index Scaling Technique” analysis (Meadow, 1981) on collected post-cranial and dental measurements of suids that are available through publication. The results showcased that the majority of the suid population across the country were domestic pigs. These results were then compared with Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic LSI values (Brusgaard et al., 2022) using the same methodology. This along with the quantification data, it proved that the suids clearly decreased in size, and secondly...Show moreThis thesis presents an osteometrical analysis of Sus scrofa (wild boar) and Sus domesticus (domesticated pig) in order to assess the contribution of the wild and domestic forms as well as the size of animals during the Bronze Age in selected Dutch sites. It investigated the role of domestic pigs and wild boars in the Netherlands during its Bronze Age (2000 B.C.E. – 800 B.C.E.) in order to further understand the human-suid relationship through subsistence practices. It incorporated the “Logratio Size Index Scaling Technique” analysis (Meadow, 1981) on collected post-cranial and dental measurements of suids that are available through publication. The results showcased that the majority of the suid population across the country were domestic pigs. These results were then compared with Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic LSI values (Brusgaard et al., 2022) using the same methodology. This along with the quantification data, it proved that the suids clearly decreased in size, and secondly it highlighted the pig exploitation activity that was present in the Netherlands. Comparative studies were done with Brusgaard et al. (2022) data, Hadjikoumis (2010) PhD on Iberian Peninsula pig domestication across prehistory, and Aegean-Anatolian pig exploitation in Late Bronze Age. All three case studies and this thesis suggest a cultural, environmental, social reasons for the choices behind pig exploitation strategy and the associated human relationship.Show less

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Size Does Matter: An Archaeozoological Study on Dutch Bronze Age Suids Using Osteometric Analysis