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Size diversity in Swiss Bronze Age cattle
M Bopp-Ito1, S Deschler-Erb1, W Vach2,3
1Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science University of Basel Basel Switzerland.
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
|July 17, 2018
Summary
Bronze Age cattle in Switzerland showed size variations, with Alpine populations being smaller than those on the Central Plateau. Sex ratios did not influence cattle size distribution across different regions and time periods.
Area of Science:
- Archaeological science
- Paleo-zoology
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Osteometric data for Swiss Bronze Age cattle, especially from Alpine regions, are limited.
- Understanding cattle size variation is crucial for reconstructing past economies and human-animal interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cattle size from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age (LBA) in various Swiss regions.
- To investigate potential effects of sex ratios on cattle size using statistical models.
Main Methods:
- Combined existing and new osteometric data from multiple Swiss sites.
- Utilized logarithmic size index, statistical analysis, finite mixture models, and meta-analytic techniques.
- Analyzed cattle populations across different time periods and geographical areas.
Main Results:
- Sex ratios did not significantly affect cattle size distribution.
- Cattle populations showed no significant size changes over time.
- Alpine cattle were consistently smaller than Central Plateau cattle.
- Two distinct size groups were identified within Alpine cattle populations.
Conclusions:
- Geographical location (Alpine vs. Central Plateau) significantly impacted cattle size.
- Economic interrelationships between communities may explain size diversity in Alpine cattle.
- Further interdisciplinary research with larger datasets is needed to confirm these findings.
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