Strontium isotope evidence of early Funnel Beaker Culture movement of cattle

Gron, Kurt; Montgomery, Janet; Otto Nielsen, Poul; Nowell, Geoff; Peterkin, Joanne L.; Sørensen, Lasse; Rowley-Conwy, Peter

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, 4000–3500 cal 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.

Citation

Gron, K., Montgomery, J., Otto Nielsen, P., Nowell, G., Peterkin, J. L., Sørensen, L., & Rowley-Conwy, P. (2016). Strontium isotope evidence of early Funnel Beaker Culture movement of cattle. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 6, 248-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.02.015

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 9, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Feb 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 11, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 5, 2016
• Journal: Journal of archaeological science, reports.
• Print ISSN: 2352-409X
• Electronic ISSN: 2352-4103
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Pages: 248-251
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.02.015
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1412285