Pre-Roman improvements to agricultural production: Evidence from livestock husbandry in late prehistoric Italy.

摘要: Domestication of wild cattle, sheep, and pigs began a process body size diminution. In most Western Europe this continued across prehistory was not reversed until the Roman period. However, in Italy, an increase livestock occurred during Iron Age, earlier than provinces. order to better understand nature timing early animal size, paper presents detailed regional study taxonomic abundance biometric data from zooarchaeological assemblages recovered Po Venetian–Friulian Plains northern Italy. Our results demonstrate high level regionality choice species exploited, with husbandry systems focused on different domesticates, as well differences size. despite significant variation frequencies, settlement structure, epigraphic tradition, all areas sufficient similar changes Cattle sheep increased incrementally prior conquest regions considered; surprisingly, decrease throughout later prehistory. The incremental pace pan-regional character change cattle suggests internally motivated phenomenon rather herd replacement new larger population, might follow colonisation or conquest. divergence trends for bovids suids noteworthy herding practices Age final centuries Bronze contrast greater continuity pig management. analysis provides thorough synthesis Italy and, first time, demonstrates that both outside territory before area. This offers basis future chemical analyses (DNA, isotopes), which will further investigate cause(s)