Use of domesticated pigs by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in northwestern Europe

Ben Krause-Kyora, Cheryl Makarewicz, Allowen Evin, Linus Girdland Flink, Keith Dobney, Greger Larson, Sönke Hartz, Stefan Schreiber, Claus von Carnap-Bornheim, Nicole von Wurmb-Schwark and Almut Nebel ()
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Ben Krause-Kyora: Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University
Cheryl Makarewicz: Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, Christian-Albrechts-University
Allowen Evin: University of Aberdeen
Linus Girdland Flink: Durham Evolution and Ancient DNA, Durham University
Keith Dobney: University of Aberdeen
Greger Larson: Durham Evolution and Ancient DNA, Durham University
Sönke Hartz: Archäologisches Landesmuseum, Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen Schloss Gottorf
Stefan Schreiber: Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University
Claus von Carnap-Bornheim: Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, Christian-Albrechts-University
Nicole von Wurmb-Schwark: Institute of Legal Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University
Almut Nebel: Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Mesolithic populations throughout Europe used diverse resource exploitation strategies that focused heavily on collecting and hunting wild prey. Between 5500 and 4200 cal BC, agriculturalists migrated into northwestern Europe bringing a suite of Neolithic technologies including domesticated animals. Here we investigate to what extent Mesolithic Ertebølle communities in northern Germany had access to domestic pigs, possibly through contact with neighbouring Neolithic agricultural groups. We employ a multidisciplinary approach, applying sequencing of ancient mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (coat colour-coding gene MC1R) as well as traditional and geometric morphometric (molar size and shape) analyses in Sus specimens from 17 Neolithic and Ertebølle sites. Our data from 63 ancient pig specimens show that Ertebølle hunter-gatherers acquired domestic pigs of varying size and coat colour that had both Near Eastern and European mitochondrial DNA ancestry. Our results also reveal that domestic pigs were present in the region ~500 years earlier than previously demonstrated.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3348

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