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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

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Authors

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Dr Kurt Gron k.j.gron@durham.ac.uk
Research Development Manager

Poul Otto Nielsen

Joanne L. Peterkin

Lasse Sørensen



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
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 6
Pages 248-251
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.02.015

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