The origins of pig domestication, with particular reference to the Near East
The purpose of this research is to shed light on the question of the origin of pig domestication, at least as regards the Near East. To find out when and where the domestication of this animal first occurred, whether the origin of its domestication was a single event occurring in one part of the world and spreading from there to other regions, or whether it was an event which occurred several times in several places in the world, is clearly an interesting matter for debate. In order to be able to answer these questions in relation to the Near East, large numbers of modern samples of known age and sex are first examined and discriminating criteria elucidated for application to archaeological material. Then, pig remains from a large archaeological sequence are examined on the basis of these well tested criteria. Metrical studies based on a large modern wild pig sample from Hakel in East Germany show that some measurements are more variable than others and suggest which measurements to select to investigate the origin of pig domestication. Among the measurements tried in this current research, tooth width measurements are the most reliable dimensions since they show low sexual dimorphism, low age-related variation
Kusatman, Berrin
Archaeozoology; Turkey; Eastern Europe; Germany
The origins of pig domestication, with particular reference to the Near East. The purpose of this research is to shed light on the question of the origin of pig domestication, at least as regards the Near East. To find out when and where the domestication of this animal first occurred, whether the origin of its domestication was a single event occurring in one part of the world and spreading from there to other regions, or whether it was an event which occurred several times in several places in the world, is clearly an interesting matter for debate. In order to be able to answer these questions in relation to the Near East, large numbers of modern samples of known age and sex are first examined and discriminating criteria elucidated for application to archaeological material. Then, pig remains from a large archaeological sequence are examined on the basis of these well tested criteria. Metrical studies based on a large modern wild pig sample from Hakel in East Germany show that some measurements are more variable than others and suggest which measurements to select to investigate the origin of pig domestication. Among the measurements tried in this current research, tooth width measurements are the most reliable dimensions since they show low sexual dimorphism, low age-related variation
origin pig domestication particular_reference near_east purpose shed_light question_origin pig domestication least regard near_east domestication animal first occur whether origin domestication single_event occur part world spread region whether event_occur several time several place world clearly interesting matter_debate order able answer_question relation near_east large_number modern_sample know age_sex first_examine discriminate criterion elucidate application archaeological_material pig remain large archaeological_sequence examine basis well test criterion metrical study_base large modern wild pig sample east germany show measurement variable others suggest measurement select investigate origin pig domestication among measurement try current tooth width measurement reliable dimension since show low sexual_dimorphism low age_related variation