In this article, we test a hypothesis about local dog domestication in the Danube Gorges of the central Balkans in the course of the Mesolithic period. Morphometric features of dog mandibles and teeth from Mesolithic-Early Neolithic sites of Vlasac, Padina, Lepenski Vir, and Hajdu cka Vodenica have been analysed and compared with recent wolves from the central Balkans. Decrease in size and changes in proportions of dog's dental features were tracked diachronically. We identified specimens which manifested mixed wolf/dog features. Such specimens originate from the Early Mesolithic contexts, the time when a decrease in size began. On the basis of this pattern, we suggest that dog domestication may have taken place in the Danube Gorges during the Early Mesolithic (ca 9500-7500 cal. BC). The reduction of size continued throughout Late Mesolithic (ca 7500-6300 cal. BC), but there were still individuals that might be regarded as 'transitional' in comparison with wolves on account of their size, and a distinct difference in size between wolves and dogs did not develop. Accordingly, if local domestication was in progress here, the domestication process might have lasted for more than just few generations and even several millennia.
Around 8000 years ago, throughout the Neolithic world a new type of artefact appeared, small spoons masterly made from cattle bone, usually interpreted as tools, due to their intensive traces of use. Contrary to those interpretations, the small dimensions of spoons and presence of intensive traces of use led us to the assumption that they were used for feeding babies. In order to test that assumption we compared 2230 marks on three spoons from the Neolithic site of Grad-Starčevo in Serbia (5800−5450 cal BC) with 3151 primary teeth marks produced experimentally. This study has shown that some of the marks on spoons were made by primary teeth, which indicate their usage in feeding babies. The production of a new type of artefact to feed babies is probably related to the appearance of a new type of weaning food, and the abundance of spoons indicates that new baby gruels became an important innovation in prehistoric baby-care.
Camel remains have occasionally been found in Roman provincial sites throughout the Empire. In Serbia, several camel bones were found on Roman period sites. In the course of the excavations of the Viminacium amphitheatre, a partial camel skeleton was found in the western part of the arena. This find dates back to the middle, or the second half, of the 4th century AD, the period after the amphitheatre lost its function. As no other camel skeleton has been found throughout the European part of the Empire until now, this one represents a unique find in this territory. According to mixed morphometric features of the skeleton, it is suggested that the skeleton belonged to a hybrid individual. Based on taphonomic analysis of the skeleton, assumptions have been made as to how the corpse of this animal was treated after death. In this paper the role and significance of camels in Roman provinces in the territory of Serbia is also discussed.
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