Livestock management during times of transition. Exploring the relationship between animal size and diet from Roman to early medieval Augusta Raurica (Switzerland)

• DOI: 10.1007/s12520-024-01973-y
• Publication Date: 2024-04-18T03:44:05Z
• Authors: Idoia Grau-Sologe...; Sabine Deschler-Erb; Claudia Gerling
• Keywords: Animal Husbandry; Zooarchaeology

Abstract Zooarchaeological research all over Europe has suggested a generalised pattern of livestock size decrease during the transition between Roman times and Early Middle Ages. Different reasons have been proposed to explain this pattern, including change in management feeding practices, context shift animal husbandry from large small scale production. This paper is based on faunal material early medieval Augusta Raurica, north-western Switzerland, provides first attempt test hypothesis, by combining zooarchaeological information (taxonomic frequencies biometrical analysis) stable carbon nitrogen isotope data bone collagen cattle pig. The results suggest important changes management, such as towards pig husbandry, evidence for increased use pannage forest pastures found.