The Feral Animal Question: Implications for Recognizing Europe's First Farmers

Gron, Kurt J.

Abstract

The presence of domestic animals is a key feature of the Neolithic. Their earliest presence in archaeological contexts across the European continent is often interpreted as reflecting farming practices. However, domestic animals often escape, survive, and become feral. Using the comparative example of colonial North America, this article's aim is to illustrate what happens when livestock are introduced to a new, continental temperate environment. Taking a dual historical and archaeological perspective, the author reiterates and elaborates on the suggestion that feral animals were almost certainly a feature of the European Neolithization process.

Citation

Gron, K. J. (online). The Feral Animal Question: Implications for Recognizing Europe's First Farmers. European Journal of Archaeology, 26(4), 410 - 425. https://doi.org/10.1017/eaa.2023.14

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 28, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Apr 14, 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 18, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 18, 2023
• Journal: European Journal of Archaeology
• Print ISSN: 1461-9571
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-2722
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 410 - 425
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/eaa.2023.14
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1175590