Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Biff, lamm och fläsk - en osteologisk analys av djurhållningen vid den neolitiska lokalen Rävgrav

Andersson, Cathrine LU (2013) ARKM23 20131
Historical Osteology
Abstract
This thesis sets out to discuss the use of domestic animals (cattle, sheep/goat and pig) at the Neolithic site of Rävgrav in Scania, southern Sweden. The osteological analysis of bone elements from Rävgrav reveals a great dependence on domestic animals, and a focus on meat production, rather than secondary products, at the site. This conclusion is based on age and sex distribution of the three species. The presence of castrated males has not been possible to determine from the osteological analysis, though the practice is known from contemporary sites. Continuous use of draught animals does not seem to have been practiced at Rävgrav, although this does not necessarily exclude occasional use of cattle as beasts of burden. Several adult pigs... (More)
This thesis sets out to discuss the use of domestic animals (cattle, sheep/goat and pig) at the Neolithic site of Rävgrav in Scania, southern Sweden. The osteological analysis of bone elements from Rävgrav reveals a great dependence on domestic animals, and a focus on meat production, rather than secondary products, at the site. This conclusion is based on age and sex distribution of the three species. The presence of castrated males has not been possible to determine from the osteological analysis, though the practice is known from contemporary sites. Continuous use of draught animals does not seem to have been practiced at Rävgrav, although this does not necessarily exclude occasional use of cattle as beasts of burden. Several adult pigs exhibit Linear Enamel Hypoplasia in their teeth, which indicate that they have survived periods of stress during the formation of these teeth, perhaps during weaning and/or due to lack of fodder in the winter months.

From comparison with other Scandinavian Neolithic sites, the site of Rävgrav fits well within an early Middle Neolithic Scandinavian tradition, though the dating of the site’s bone material is in need of a more comprehensive analysis. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Andersson, Cathrine LU
supervisor
organization
course
ARKM23 20131
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Rävgrav, Neolithic, zooarchaeology, animal bones, economy, draught animals, Linear Enamel Hypoplasia, djurhållning, neolitikum, osteologi, djurben, ekonomi, tamdjur, domesticering, emaljhypoplasier, dragdjur
language
Swedish
id
3801352
date added to LUP
2013-08-29 14:39:21
date last changed
2013-08-29 14:39:21
@misc{3801352,
  abstract     = {{This thesis sets out to discuss the use of domestic animals (cattle, sheep/goat and pig) at the Neolithic site of Rävgrav in Scania, southern Sweden. The osteological analysis of bone elements from Rävgrav reveals a great dependence on domestic animals, and a focus on meat production, rather than secondary products, at the site. This conclusion is based on age and sex distribution of the three species. The presence of castrated males has not been possible to determine from the osteological analysis, though the practice is known from contemporary sites. Continuous use of draught animals does not seem to have been practiced at Rävgrav, although this does not necessarily exclude occasional use of cattle as beasts of burden. Several adult pigs exhibit Linear Enamel Hypoplasia in their teeth, which indicate that they have survived periods of stress during the formation of these teeth, perhaps during weaning and/or due to lack of fodder in the winter months.
 
From comparison with other Scandinavian Neolithic sites, the site of Rävgrav fits well within an early Middle Neolithic Scandinavian tradition, though the dating of the site’s bone material is in need of a more comprehensive analysis.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Cathrine}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Biff, lamm och fläsk - en osteologisk analys av djurhållningen vid den neolitiska lokalen Rävgrav}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}