Reindeer during the Upper Palaeolithic in Poland: Aspects of variability and paleoecology (original) (raw)
Related papers
Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 2012
Ab stract: The pa per deals with the morphometric anal y sis of re mains of the rein deer Rangifer tarandus Linnaeus, 1758 from 20 Late Pleis to cene cave lo cal i ties in Po land. In most of the lo cal i ties, the spe cies was the most abundant com po nent of the large mam mal fauna; the re mains came from in di vid u als, killed by pred a tors, in clud ing man. The mea sure ments of the re mains were com pared with those of rein deer from lo cal i ties in Ger many, Moldova, Ukraine and Rus sia. The mea sure ments of the rein deer from Po land were in ter me di ate be tween the smaller and more slen der rein deer from northwest ern Eu rope and the larger rein deer from south ern and east ern Eu rope; the ant lers from the lo cal i ties stud ied mainly rep re sented the tun dra form of Rangifer tarandus. The for est form of the spe cies was rep re sented by a few ant lers. With re spect to the ages of in di vid u als, the rein deer from the Pol ish sites be longed to the age classes of un der 2 years, 5-6 years and 6-7 years.
Quaternary International, 2011
The Late-glacial and early Holocene periods are characterized by significant climatic and environmental changes that result in a global warming. In this context, typical glacial species such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) were extirpated from the southern regions of western Europe following different timing according to the geographical location. A new direct radiocarbon date was performed on a reindeer metatarsus from the Mesolithic site of Rottenburg-Siebenlinden in the Swabian Jura. The result (9225 AE 35 BP; 10,270e10,500 cal BP) confirmed the survival of this species during the early Holocene in southwestern (SW) Germany. Collagen 13 C and 15 N abundances (d 13 C coll and d 15 N coll) were measured on this Holocene reindeer and on Late-glacial reindeer from Magdalenian sites e Petersfels, Schussenquelle, Felsställe and Kesslerloch e of the same region to investigate their diet and environment. During the first part of the Late-glacial (ca. 16.6e14 ka cal BP), the d 13 C coll values of the SW Germany reindeer were slightly lower than those found in reindeer from Stellmoor and Meiendorf sites in northern Germany, probably as a result of lower lichen consumption and higher humidity. Lower d 15 N coll values in SW Germany reindeer compared to southwestern France could be linked to less advanced soil maturation as the inheritance of higher permafrost intensity linked to harsher climatic conditions during the Late-Glacial Maximum. In SW Germany, the early Holocene reindeer had a higher d 15 N coll value (4&) than those of its Late-glacial counterparts (1.2e3.3&), which would reflect the expected increase in 15 N abundances of soils and plants with higher temperature. However, relatively high d 15 N values (ca. 4e5&) were also found in the reindeer of southwestern England as early as during the Younger Dryas, the last cold stadial preceding the early Holocene. In contrast, northern and western Germany reindeer exhibited increasing d 13 C coll values but stable d 15 N coll values during the Younger Dryas compared to the previous Bölling/Alleröd interstadial. This could indicate a slower response in 15 N coll than in 13 C coll abundances of ancient reindeer to climatic changes. Finally, the reindeer of southern England and SW Germany survived the Younger Dryas/early Holocene transition in a relatively open landscape as confirmed by the d 13 C coll values measured on coeval deer.
Quaternary International
The Late-glacial and early Holocene periods are characterized by significant climatic and environmental changes that result in a global warming. In this context, typical glacial species such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) were extirpated from the southern regions of western Europe following different timing according to the geographical location. A new direct radiocarbon date was performed on a reindeer metatarsus from the Mesolithic site of Rottenburg-Siebenlinden in the Swabian Jura. The result (9225 ± 35 BP; 10,270–10,500 cal BP) confirmed the survival of this species during the early Holocene in southwestern (SW) Germany. Collagen 13C and 15N abundances (δ13Ccoll and δ15Ncoll) were measured on this Holocene reindeer and on Late-glacial reindeer from Magdalenian sites – Petersfels, Schussenquelle, Felsställe and Kesslerloch – of the same region to investigate their diet and environment. During the first part of the Late-glacial (ca. 16.6–14 ka cal BP), the δ13Ccoll values of the SW Germany reindeer were slightly lower than those found in reindeer from Stellmoor and Meiendorf sites in northern Germany, probably as a result of lower lichen consumption and higher humidity. Lower δ15Ncoll values in SW Germany reindeer compared to southwestern France could be linked to less advanced soil maturation as the inheritance of higher permafrost intensity linked to harsher climatic conditions during the Late-Glacial Maximum. In SW Germany, the early Holocene reindeer had a higher δ15Ncoll value (4‰) than those of its Late-glacial counterparts (1.2–3.3‰), which would reflect the expected increase in 15N abundances of soils and plants with higher temperature. However, relatively high δ15N values (ca. 4–5‰) were also found in the reindeer of southwestern England as early as during the Younger Dryas, the last cold stadial preceding the early Holocene. In contrast, northern and western Germany reindeer exhibited increasing δ13Ccoll values but stable δ15Ncoll values during the Younger Dryas compared to the previous Bölling/Alleröd interstadial. This could indicate a slower response in 15Ncoll than in 13Ccoll abundances of ancient reindeer to climatic changes. Finally, the reindeer of southern England and SW Germany survived the Younger Dryas/early Holocene transition in a relatively open landscape as confirmed by the δ13Ccoll values measured on coeval deer.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Among other large mammals, the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is a species widely documented during the Late Glacial in Northern Europe. It is present at many archeological sites and has the potential to provide information about environmental conditions through analysis of the paleodiet. Among other techniques, tooth wear analyses allow for the inference of the dietary traits of a population and its habitat (and more largely the environmental context) at the time of death. In this study, tooth microwear and mesowear analyses were used to characterize the diet and habitat of the reindeer populations from Stellmoor and Meiendorf (Northern Germany) and Verberie (Paris Basin). We use tooth wear analyses to estimate the dependence of reindeer on lichen between the early Late Glacial interstadial (GI-1e) and the cold episode of the Younger Dryas (GS-1), which are both characterized by tundra vegetation. New radiocarbon dates were obtained on selected materials from the two northern sites in order to confirm the chronological attribution to either the GI-1e or the GS-1. We observed significant differences between the two periods, with an increase of lichen in the diet in the populations from the Younger Dryas. These fit with the results obtained on the collagen isotopic signature (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) of the reindeer from the same sites. The steppic cold conditions during the Younger Dryas created favorable conditions for greater lichen availability and permitted the return of the reindeer to Northern Europe.
Materiale și Cercetări Arheologice (serie nouă), 2019
The Upper Palaeolithic site from Buda (Bacău County) has been known since 1952 for the large amount of animal bones discovered alongside Gravettian tools. The revision of the osteological material from the old excavations (1958-1960), as well as the study of newly discovered specimens excavated in the 2012-2014 field seasons was carried out. The faunal material is dominated by long bone epiphyses and elements of the distal limbs, suggesting that the site functioned, for a short period, as a butchery site where the steppe bison and reindeer carcasses were dismembered, long bones were cracked for marrow extraction and then the skeletal elements that presented no interest were abandoned. Based on the population structure and reindeer antler development, we estimate that the hunting expeditions took place at the beginning of the cold season.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2020
Reindeer herding probably developed during the Late Iron Age onwards and is still an important part of the subsistence and culture of many peoples in northern Eurasia. However, despite the importance of this husbandry in the history of these Arctic people, the period and place of the origin as well as the spread of domestic reindeer is still highly debated. Besides the existence of different breeding methods in these territories, identifying domesticated individuals in the archaeological record is complicated because reindeers are considered to still be in the early phases of the domestication process. Indeed, the traditional morphological markers used in zooarchaeology to decipher the domestication syndrome are hardly perceptible in these early stages. In this work, we propose solutions for identifying domestic reindeer bones using 3D geometric morphometrics on isolated elements from the long bones of the forelimb (i.e. humerus, radio-ulna and metacarpal). These bones are important to understand both the feeding behaviour and the mobility of reindeer, and the potential effect of load-carrying or draught in the case of domestic reindeer. We analysed 123 modern specimens from Fennoscandia, including the two interbreeding subspecies currently present in these territories: mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and forest reindeer (R.t. fennicus); and where the sex and the lifestyle were known (i.e. free-ranging, racing or draught and captive individuals). A good level of discrimination between the size and shape variables of the bones of the forelimb was found among both subspecies and sexes. Moreover, individuals bred in captivity had smaller bone elements and a thinner and more slender morphology than free-ranging individuals. This demonstrates that the long bones of the forelimb can provide information on changes in feeding and locomotor behaviour prompted by the domesti-cation process, like control and/or reduction of mobility and food of individual reindeer by humans. This also demonstrates that analysis in 3D geometric morphometrics is useful in detecting reindeer incipient domestication markers. Our results can be used by archaeologists to trace the early stages of domestication from fossil reindeer remains, and aid in reconstructing the socioeconomic changes of past Arctic populations over time.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2000
In archaeozoological investigations of sexually-dimorphic species such as Rangifer, Cervus, andBison , osteometry has a great—but as yet unexploited—potential as a source of refined demographic information. For this purpose, however, two important points must be taken into account. Firstly, the age-classes represented by different skeletal elements differ and thus sex-ratios may vary according to the anatomical element studied. Secondly, the fragments to be analysed should be chosen carefully in order to ensure that he age-class which they represent is known. A failure to do so may hinder the correct determination of sex ratios. This paper attempts to show, by means of an example, that, when these factors are considered, important demographic information and interesting insights about topics such as hunting strategies can be gained. The analysis of the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) assemblage from Stellmoor, an open-air Late Glacial site in northern Germany, revealed that male and female individuals in the different cohorts were killed in the same proportions as they occur in a typical herd, thus pointing to a non-selective hunting strategy. The results also argue against the assertion that reindeer herds were controlled by people during this period.
PLOS ONE, 2017
This article describes evidence for contact and exchange among Mesolithic communities in Poland and Scandinavia, based on the interdisciplinary analysis of an ornamented bâ ton percé from Gołębiewo site 47 (Central Poland). Typological and chronological-cultural analyses show the artefact to be most likely produced in the North European Plain, during the Boreal period. Carbon-14 dating confirms the antiquity of the artefact. Ancient DNA analysis shows the artefact to be of Rangifer tarandus antler. Following this species designation, a dispersion analysis of Early-Holocene reindeer remains in Europe was conducted, showing this species to exist only in northern Scandinavia and northwestern Russia in this period. Therefore, the bâton from Gołębiewo constitutes the youngest reindeer remains in the Euro-pean Plain and southwestern Scandinavia known to date. An attempt was made to determine the biogeographic region from which the antler used to produce the artefact originates from. To this end, comprehensive δ 18 O, δ 13 C and δ 15 N isotope analyses were performed. North Karelia and South Lapland were determined as the most probable regions in terms of isotopic data, results which correspond to the known distribution range of Rangifer tarandus at this time. In light of these finds, the likelihood of contact between Scandinavia and Central Europe in Early Holocene is evaluated. The bâ ton percé from Gołębiewo is likely key evidence for long-distance exchange during the Boreal period.