The logic of the herd: A computer simulation of archaeological herd structure

Cribb, Roger

doi:10.1016/0278-4165(87)90006-7

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thereby, cattle herding is in most cases connected with kill-of profiles indicative for dairying [22] , [50] – [55] . Milk consumption and dairying have been proposed to be as early as the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B of the Near East and may even be a reason for domestication [56] , [57] . Without doubt, it was a common cultural practice during all phases and regions of the European Neolithic, especially for goat and cattle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Origins of Lactase Persistence in Europe

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lactase persistence (LP) is common among people of European ancestry, but with the exception of some African, Middle Eastern and southern Asian groups, is rare or absent elsewhere in the world. Lactase gene haplotype conservation around a polymorphism strongly associated with LP in Europeans (−13,910 C/T) indicates that the derived allele is recent in origin and has been subject to strong positive selection. Furthermore, ancient DNA work has shown that the −13,910*T (derived) allele was very rare or absent in early Neolithic central Europeans. It is unlikely that LP would provide a selective advantage without a supply of fresh milk, and this has lead to a gene-culture coevolutionary model where lactase persistence is only favoured in cultures practicing dairying, and dairying is more favoured in lactase persistent populations. We have developed a flexible demic computer simulation model to explore the spread of lactase persistence, dairying, other subsistence practices and unlinked genetic markers in Europe and western Asia's geographic space. Using data on −13,910*T allele frequency and farming arrival dates across Europe, and approximate Bayesian computation to estimate parameters of interest, we infer that the −13,910*T allele first underwent selection among dairying farmers around 7,500 years ago in a region between the central Balkans and central Europe, possibly in association with the dissemination of the Neolithic Linearbandkeramik culture over Central Europe. Furthermore, our results suggest that natural selection favouring a lactase persistence allele was not higher in northern latitudes through an increased requirement for dietary vitamin D. Our results provide a coherent and spatially explicit picture of the coevolution of lactase persistence and dairying in Europe.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Origins of Lactase Persistence in Europe

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The husbandry practices simulated were developed through comparing what was interpreted to have been exploited in the past herds to the simulated herd. Dates of assemblages span phases of several years and there are no instances of catastrophic loss in the rural settlements in the region, which would provide a precise age structure of a live herd (Cribb, 1987). This is potentially problematic for 'many different mechanisms can be responsible for the same output or kill-off pattern' (Cribb, 1987: 378).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating the Farm: Computational Modelling of Cattle and Sheep Herd Dynamics for the Analysis of Past Animal Husbandry Practices

Joyce¹,

Verhagen²

2016

Multi-, Inter- And Transdisciplinary Research in Landscape Archaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study forms part of a larger project analysing the development of the cultural landscape in the Dutch Roman limes region, including the development of the rural economy. The primary research aim in this study is to investigate changes in pastoral production as a result of differing population dynamics of sheep and cattle herds subjected to different animal husbandry practices. Differences between such practices have not been considered in previous models of pastoral production in the region where herds have been treated as static entities. In this study we simulated different animal husbandry strategies based on trends and developments inferred from the faunal record in a well-documented area of the limes zone. The results of these simulations were analysed for differences in population viability, as well as relative differences in production of meat, wool and manure, and relative requirements for pastureland requirements and labour. Our analysis shows that cattle and sheep herds exploited for products supplied by the animals whilst living (manure and traction from cattle, wool from sheep) exhibit higher growth rates than herds exploited for meat. In addition, they are able to supply larger quantities of calories. However these herds have higher requirements for labour and land, presenting a possibly limiting factor. We conclude that, in addition to complementing intensification and extensification of arable farming observed in the region, agriculturalists would have benefitted from herds with higher growth rates, particularly given their risk-aversion behavior during periods of economic uncertainty. These simulations will be subsequently used to produce more nuanced scenarios of pastoral production within agent-based modelling of the mixed rural economy in the Dutch Roman limes zone.

show abstract

“…Aged specimens were pooled to three age classes (Marom and Bar-Oz, 2009a,b): young (less than 1 year old at death), sub-adult (between 1 and 2 years old at death) and adult (over 2 years at death). The age classes follow Cribb (1987). Sex-ratio estimation employed mixture analysis (Monchot et al, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reid, 1996, p. 50). This is in contrast to the females, which make up the majority of the reproductive core of a herd and cannot be easily taxed or levied without risking a drop in production (Cribb, 1987; Redding, 1981). This means that we can expect the relative frequency of males in non-elite contexts to decrease with increased elite levying of animals for feasts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%