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Harvesting Wild Boar a study of prey choice by hunters during the Mesolithic in South Scandinavia by analysis of age and sex structures in faunal remains

Magnell, Ola LU (2005) In Archaeofauna 14(2005). p.27-41
Abstract
The hunting of wild boar during the Mesolithic was studied by analysis of age and sex distributions in faunal remains from four settlement situated in Scania, Southern Sweden. The results show that the harvest of wild boar varied between different settlements, Piglets dominate the age distribution in the faunal remains of teh sites of Ringsjöholm and Tågerup, which indicate a hunting of wild boar reflecting the age composition of living populations. In the faunal remains from the sites of Ageröd I:HC and Bredasten the age distributin are different, with mainly individuals older than 36 months, which is interpreted as the result of a selective prey choice by the hunters. The sex ratio based on osteometry indicates that females made up two... (More)
The hunting of wild boar during the Mesolithic was studied by analysis of age and sex distributions in faunal remains from four settlement situated in Scania, Southern Sweden. The results show that the harvest of wild boar varied between different settlements, Piglets dominate the age distribution in the faunal remains of teh sites of Ringsjöholm and Tågerup, which indicate a hunting of wild boar reflecting the age composition of living populations. In the faunal remains from the sites of Ageröd I:HC and Bredasten the age distributin are different, with mainly individuals older than 36 months, which is interpreted as the result of a selective prey choice by the hunters. The sex ratio based on osteometry indicates that females made up two thirds of the harvest of adult wild boar. The hunting seems not to have been directed towards promoting a sustainable harvest, but rather to maximise the yield of the hunt. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
mesolithic, Wild boar, hunting, sex distribution, prey selection, age distribution
in
Archaeofauna
volume
14
issue
2005
pages
27 - 41
publisher
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid: Laboratorio de Arqueozoología
external identifiers
  • wos:000233019700002
  • scopus:61149706708
ISSN
1132-6891
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8f47e408-f425-4e90-b96d-88ef0c6e0087 (old id 161561)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:13:48
date last changed
2022-04-23 03:36:21
@article{8f47e408-f425-4e90-b96d-88ef0c6e0087,
  abstract     = {{The hunting of wild boar during the Mesolithic was studied by analysis of age and sex distributions in faunal remains from four settlement situated in Scania, Southern Sweden. The results show that the harvest of wild boar varied between different settlements, Piglets dominate the age distribution in the faunal remains of teh sites of Ringsjöholm and Tågerup, which indicate a hunting of wild boar reflecting the age composition of living populations. In the faunal remains from the sites of Ageröd I:HC and Bredasten the age distributin are different, with mainly individuals older than 36 months, which is interpreted as the result of a selective prey choice by the hunters. The sex ratio based on osteometry indicates that females made up two thirds of the harvest of adult wild boar. The hunting seems not to have been directed towards promoting a sustainable harvest, but rather to maximise the yield of the hunt.}},
  author       = {{Magnell, Ola}},
  issn         = {{1132-6891}},
  keywords     = {{mesolithic; Wild boar; hunting; sex distribution; prey selection; age distribution}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2005}},
  pages        = {{27--41}},
  publisher    = {{Universidad Autónoma de Madrid: Laboratorio de Arqueozoología}},
  series       = {{Archaeofauna}},
  title        = {{Harvesting Wild Boar a study of prey choice by hunters during the Mesolithic in South Scandinavia by analysis of age and sex structures in faunal remains}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}