Hunting before herding: A zooarchaeological and stable isotopic study of suids (Sus sp.) at Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands (5450–4250 cal BC)

Abstract

Suids (Sus sp.) played a crucial role in the transition to farming in northern Europe and, like in many regions, in the Netherlands pig husbandry became an important subsistence activity at Neolithic sites. Yet little is known about wild boar palaeoecology and hunting in the Late Mesolithic Netherlands with which to contextualize this transition. This paper presents the first multi-proxy analysis of archaeological suid remains in the Netherlands. It explores human-suid interactions at the Swifterbant culture sites of Hardinxveld-Giessendam Polderweg and De Bruin (5450–4250 BC) through biometric analysis, estimation of age-at-death, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. The results reveal targeted hunting of adult wild boar in the Late Mesolithic (5450–4850 BC), with a possible shift over time towards more juveniles. The wild boar in this period are demonstrated to be of comparably large size to contemporary northern European populations and exhibiting a wide range of dietary regimes. In the final occupational period (4450–4250 BC), small suids are present, possibly domestic pigs, but there is no evidence of pig management. This study demonstrates that the nature of human-suid interactions varied over time, which may have been connected to changing environmental conditions, human mobility, and wild boar behaviour. This study also contributes the first biometric and dietary baseline for mid-Holocene wild boar in the Netherlands.

High-resolution Bayesian chronology of the earliest evidence of domesticated animals in the Dutch wetlands (Hardinxveld-Giessendam archaeological sites)

“…A recent zooarchaeological and stable isotope study on these sites ruled out dietary and population management of Sus and Bos species that would reflect animal husbandry. Indeed, it was proposed that the absence of neonates and young piglets in this phase may suggest that these small-sized remains were not husbanded but were the product of exchange with farmers, a pattern documented in similar contexts elsewhere, and which also precedes animal husbandry [ 15 , 36 , 37 ]. In this context, wild species remain dominant subsistence strategy, with a special emphasis on hunting beavers, which increases towards the last occupation phases [ 18 , 28 ].…”

“…With the possibility of obtaining high-precision radiocarbon dates, the benefits of improved sample preparation, and the availability of powerful Bayesian modelling tools, radiocarbon datasets can now be analyzed more effectively, and can make a significant contribution to the debate. Such chronological modeling is an important aspect of the project ‘The Emergence of Domestic Animals in the Netherlands’ (EDAN), based at the University of Groningen [ 15 ]. On this project, we focus on a series of wetland sites dating to the fifth millennium BCE.…”

“…These sites feature the oldest Swifterbant pottery, the earliest remains of domesticated animals (sheep/goat, small-sized Sus and Bos ), and possible evidence of dairy production [ 16 ], while the dwellers retained a lifestyle where hunting and gathering were the primary subsistence strategies (the broad spectrum economy [ 13 , 16 – 19 ]). The presence of domesticated Sus and/or Bos was explored through morphometric and stable isotope analysis [ 15 ] and is currently undergoing aDNA study [Erven et al in prep.]. Although the stable isotope analysis did not elucidate any evidence of dietary management or harvesting practices indicative of animal husbandry, it is clear that these sites provide information about communities that were familiar with livestock rearing (sheep/goat, small-sized pigs and cattle) and, if anything, their practices likely preceded animal husbandry [ 15 ].…”

“…The presence of domesticated Sus and/or Bos was explored through morphometric and stable isotope analysis [ 15 ] and is currently undergoing aDNA study [Erven et al in prep.]. Although the stable isotope analysis did not elucidate any evidence of dietary management or harvesting practices indicative of animal husbandry, it is clear that these sites provide information about communities that were familiar with livestock rearing (sheep/goat, small-sized pigs and cattle) and, if anything, their practices likely preceded animal husbandry [ 15 ]. Consequently, Hardinxveld sites provide complementary information on the chronological framework within which the emergence of animal husbandry in the Dutch wetlands occurred.…”

“…We obtained radiocarbon dates on 27 bone collagen samples from targeted contexts across all habitation phases of both sites. To avoid reservoir effects, we limited the sample choice to herbivorous mammals, namely Bos (aurochs/cattle), Cervus elaphus (red deer), Sus (wild boar with herbivorous diet, according to the recent stable isotope study [ 15 ]), and Castor fiber (Eurasian beaver). For an insight into the reservoir effect, we dated a single specimen of Lutra lutra (otter), as well.…”