Size diversity in Swiss Bronze Age cattle. (17th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bopp‐Ito, M.; Deschler‐Erb, S.; Vach, W.; Schibler, J.
• Is Part Of: International journal of osteoarchaeology. Volume 28:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 304
• Publication Date: 2018-04-17
• Subjects: bronze age -- cattle husbandry -- logarithmic size index -- osteometry -- sex ratio -- zooarchaeology; Physical anthropology -- Periodicals; Human remains (Archaeology) -- Periodicals; Paleopathology -- Periodicals; Paléontologie -- Périodiques; Paléopathologie -- Périodiques; Anthropologie physique -- Périodiques; 930.10282
• DOI: 10.1002/oa.2654
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-482X

Abstract

Abstract: To date, osteometric data for Swiss Bronze Age cattle, particularly from Alpine sites, are scarce. In the present study, using a large dataset generated by combining preexisting data with recent data obtained from a large Alpine site, cattle size from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age (LBA) in populations from different sites and regions was evaluated using the logarithmic size index and other statistical analysis. Additionally, the finite mixture model and a meta‐analytic technique were used to observe possible effects of sex ratios on cattle size. Results indicated that sex ratios did not affect size distribution. Cattle populations did not differ over time, but the Alpine cattle were smaller than the Central Plateau cattle. There were two distinct sizes in the Alpine cattle populations. It is suggested that the different economic interrelationships between Alpine and other geographically related communities might have led to the emergence of size diversity in Swiss Bronze Age cattle. Further interdisciplinary studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these possibilities.