Wild, domestic and feral? Investigating the status of suids in the Romanian Gumelnita (5th mil. cal BC) with biogeochemistry and geometric morphometrics

International audienceIn south-eastern Romania, a prominent place was given to pigs in the Gumelniţa culture (Late Chalcolithic, second half of 5th millennium BC); as was the highly prized wild boar, one of a variety of species targeted for hunting. The wild boars’ ecological niche and the scale of pig husbandry were investigated during a stable isotope study of the Gumelniţa A2 occupations at Borduşani-Popină, Hârşova-tell and Vităneşti-Măgurice. Results from the bone collagen δ15N and δ13C analysis suggested that the wild boars did not inhabit dense forests, in any of these locations. The emerging picture is of small-scale pig husbandry involving household management: pigs being fed leftovers and/or by-products of human activities. At Vităneşti, previous work involving geometric morphometrics on suid molars evidenced, besides the two expected groups of small domestic pigs and large specimens with wild molar shape (i.e. wild boar), the presence of specimens with large size and domestic shape molars, whose relationship with the human community was unclear. Results from the combined geometric morphometric and stable isotope analyses, suggested that the large specimens with domestic molar shape lived in close proximity to the wild ecosystem. They were probably not part of the domestic stock, but belonged to a feral population and were acquired through hunting

Unravelling the complexity of domestication:A case study using morphometrics and ancient DNA analyses of archaeological pigs from Romania

Funding statement. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/F003382/1) and the Leverhulme Trust (F/00 128/AX) Acknowledgements. Archaeozoological analyses conducted by A. Ba˘la˘s¸escu were supported by three grants from the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS UEFISCDI (PN-II-RU-TE-20113-0146, PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0982 and PN-IIID-PCE-2011-3-1015). We thank the archeologists Ca˘ta˘lin Bem, Alexandru Dragoman, Valentin Dumitras¸cu, Laura Dietrich, Raluca Koga˘lniceanu, Cristian Micu, Sta˘nica Pandrea, Valentin Parnic, George Trohani, Valentina Voinea for the material they generously provided. We thank the many institutions and individuals that provided sample material and access to collections, especially the curators of the Museum fu¨r Naturkunde, Berlin; Muse´um National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris; Muse´um d’Histoire Naturelle, Gene`ve; Museum fu¨r Haustierkunde, Halle; National Museum of Natural History, Washington; The Field Museum, Chicago and The American Museum of Natural History, New York; The Naturhistorisches Museum, BernPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Early herding at Măgura-Boldul lui Moş Ivănuş (early sixth millennium BC, Romania): environments and seasonality from stable isotope analysis

International audienceStable isotope analyses were conducted on faunal remains from the site of Măgura-Boldul lui MoşIvănuş with the objective of characterizing the environments and seasonality of husbandry in theearliest Neolithic (Gura Baciului-Cârcea/Starčevo-Criş I) of southern Romania. Results from bonecollagen analysis indicate extensive herding strategies for cattle and pigs. However, sequential analysisin tooth enamel also provides evidence for winter leaf foddering in one bovine, potentially kept by thesettlement over winter. In some instances, sheep were fed a 13C-enriched resource in late winter, whichmay have also coincided with lactation. It could not be determined whether this contribution was fromC3 or C4 plants. Although isolated, these findings may be important in evaluating how early agriculturalcommunities dealt with environmental constraints. These results are also interpreted withreference to the models of intensive mixed farming systems recently proposed by Bogaard (2004) andHalstead (2006)

Cercetări arheologice în aşezarea eneolitică de la Mălăieştii de Jos (jud. Prahova), campaniile 2002–2010 / Archaeological excavations in the Eneolithic site of Mălăieştii de Jos (jud. Prahova)

North of the Mălăieştii de Jos village (Prahova county), on the edge of a high terrace (295 m altitude), an Eneolithic settlement was noted. To the north and south the site is naturally bordered by deep gullies and ravines, and to the east by the river valley. A rather easy way of access, probably manmade. exists on its west side. The settlement is located in the hilly area at the northern limit of a microzone characterized by relatively high and extensive terraces, at 3.3 km north from the confluence of the Vărbilău and Teleajen rivers. Despite the fact that the southern part of the Mornel terrace covers a large area where the settlement could have been conveniently located, the Eneolithic community preferred this remote edge of the terrace because of its natural protection from three sides, and probably cut an access path to ensure its isolation. 2002 saw the beginning of the systematic archaeological research, within a project focusing on the dynamics and evolution of the Neo-Eneolithic communities in the northern Wallachia. The excavation system emplyed aimed to completely expose the habitation features, not only for the observing the internal organization of the settlement, but also for obtaining detailed information on the the house building techniques and strategies, distribution of household items, etc. An important part of the research focused on the areas outside the living quarters, in an attempt to improve our understanding of the vertical internal development of the settlement, as well as the horizontal stratigraphic relationships between the various feature uncovereds. In this respect, among other things, it was sought not to isolate the houses from the rest of the archaeological context. In order to obtain such information, the excavation was carried out by simultaneous opening and excavation of large areas. The settlement had one archaeological layer, with several habitation phases. These do not necessarily signify a discontinuity in the evolution of the site, but it rather mirrors the internal evolution of the settlement. These phases could be observed both in the the superposition of the archaeological features, various building facilities and levelings, and the variable thickness of the archaeological layer in different areas of the site. There are places where the cultural layer thickness does not exceed 0.20 m, while in others it reached lower than 0.60– 0.80 m. Several superpositions and intersections of the archaeological features are the markers of the important internal dynamics of this settlement. We were able to identify and observe not only a cumulative stratigraphic evolution, but also the disturbances of the natural and anthropic deposits, as the land was reshuffled in various stages. While excavating we noticed an increased activity in the modeling of the living space. The occuppied perimeter was, naturally restricted and rugged at the same time, and thus various changes were required in order to create additional space, but also to „ isolate” the community. This community reached creative solutions in modelling a restricted space, building homes tailored to the topography. The archaeological research revealed traces of artificial terraces. The settlement covered approx. 4000 sqm, and counted no more than 6 to 8 houses, most likely not all contemporaneous. The dwellings were relatively small, with one or two rooms. It is worth noting the richness of the archaeological finds, especially refitting pottery fragments. Flint and stone tools occured mainly outside the living areas and in waste dumps. Mammal bones were both very rare and poorly preserved.. The archaeological materials discovered indicate the presence of an Eneolithic community with cultural affinities in the Stoicani-Aldeni cultural aspect.La nord de satul Mălăieştii de Jos (jud. Prahova), pe marginea unei terase, a fost identificată o aşezare eneolitică. Aceasta era delimitată natural la nord şi sud de viroage şi râpe adânci, iar la est de albia râului. Aşezarea este situată în zona colinară, la limita de nord a unei microzone caracterizată de terase întinse, relativ înalte, la 3,3 km nord de vărsarea râului Vărbilău în Teleajen. Deşi în zona de sud a terasei Mornelului exista un spaţiu larg unde putea să-şi dureze aşezarea, comunitatea umană eneolitică a preferat această margine de terasă izolată şi apărată natural din trei părţi, probabil amenajând calea de acces pentru izolare. În anul 2002 au fost iniţiate în acest sit cercetări arheologice sistematice, în cadrul unui proiect ce a vizat dinamica şi evoluţia comunităţilor umane neo-eneolitice din nordul Munteniei1. Prin sistemul de săpătură adoptat s-a urmărit dezvelirea integrală a complexelor de locuire, atât pentru observaţii ce privesc organizarea internă a aşezării, cât şi pentru obţinerea unor informaţii detaliate asupra modului de construcţie a locuinţelor, distribuţia inventarului acestora etc. Importantă a fost şi cercetarea zonelor aflate în exteriorul locuinţelor în încercarea de a înţelege cât mai bine evoluţia internă a aşezării în plan vertical, dar şi relaţiile stratigrafice pe orizontală între complexe. În acest sens, am căutat să nu izolăm locuinţele de restul contextului arheologic. Pentru a obţine aceste informaţii, săpătura s-a desfăşurat în suprafaţă, prin deschiderea concomitentă a unor zone largi. Aşezarea avea un singur nivel arheologic, cu mai multe etape de locuire. Aceasta nu marchează neapărat o discontinuitate, ci mai curând situaţia a fost determinată de evoluţia internă a aşezării. Aceste etape sunt puse în evidenţă de suprapunerea unora dintre complexele arheologice, amenajări diverse şi nivelări, dar şi de grosimea variabilă a nivelului arheologic în zone diferite ale sitului. Astfel, există zone în care acesta nu depăşeşte grosimea de 0,20 m, iar în altele atinge peste 0,60– 0,80 m. Câteva dintre suprapunerile şi întretăierile de complexe arheologice sugerează existenţa unei importante dinamici interne a aşezării. S-a putut identifica şi observa nu numai o evoluţie stratigrafică cumulativă, ci şi intervenţii asupra depozitelor antropice sau naturale, terenul fiind remaniat în diverse etape. Situl este remarcabil şi prin o intensă activitate de amenajare a spaţiului locuit. Perimetrul ocupat fiind restrâns, delimitat natural şi în acelaşi timp accidentat, a necesitat diverse amenajări, atât pentru crearea de spaţiu suplimentar, cât şi pentru „ izolarea” comunităţii. Această comunitate a identificat soluţii ingenioase pentru a amenaja acest spaţiu restrâns, construind locuinţe adaptate situaţiei topografice. Cercetarea arheologică a pus în evidenţă urmele unor terase artificiale. Aşezarea avea în jur de 4000 m2, cu maximum 6– 8 locuinţe, probabil nu toate contemporane. Locuinţele erau relativ mici, cu una sau două camere. Se remarcă bogăţia inventarului locuinţelor mai ales în ceea ce priveşte ceramică întregibilă. Uneltele din silex şi piatră apar mai ales în afara locuinţelor şi în gropile menajere. Resturile faunistice sunt foarte rare şi slab conservate. Materialele descoperite indică prezenţa unei comunităţi eneolitice cu afinităţi culturale ce pot fi atribuite aspectului cultural Stoicani-Aldeni.Frînculeasa Alin, Andreescu Radian, Negrea Octav, Niţă Loredana, Frînculeasa Mădălina, Popa Elek, Preda Bianca. Cercetări arheologice în aşezarea eneolitică de la Mălăieştii de Jos (jud. Prahova), campaniile 2002–2010 / Archaeological excavations in the Eneolithic site of Mălăieştii de Jos (jud. Prahova). In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°8 2012. pp. 11-57

Approches combinées pour appréhender l’évolution du cochon domestique en Roumanie : morphométrie géométrique, ADN ancien et analyses isotopiques

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The genomic history of southeastern Europe

Farming was first introduced to Europe in the mid-seventh millennium bc, and was associated with migrants from Anatolia who settled in the southeast before spreading throughout Europe. Here, to understand the dynamics of this process, we analysed genome-wide ancient DNA data from 225 individuals who lived in southeastern Europe and surrounding regions between 12000 and 500 bc. We document a west-east cline of ancestry in indigenous hunter-gatherers and, in eastern Europe, the early stages in the formation of Bronze Age steppe ancestry. We show that the first farmers of northern and western Europe dispersed through southeastern Europe with limited hunter-gatherer admixture, but that some early groups in the southeast mixed extensively with hunter-gatherers without the sex-biased admixture that prevailed later in the north and west. We also show that southeastern Europe continued to be a nexus between east and west after the arrival of farmers, with intermittent genetic contact with steppe populations occurring up to 2,000 years earlier than the migrations from the steppe that ultimately replaced much of the population of northern Europe.Iain Mathieson … Wolfgang Haak … David Reic