MOBILITY OF CATTLE AND OTHER LIVESTOCK IN THE IRON AGE AND ROMAN NETHERLANDS
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2021-03-01

Material culture shows extensive trade networks in both the Iron Age and Roman period in the Netherlands. Movement of people has been documented historically and has been suggested based on the archaeological evidence. Until recently, little was known about the mobility of livestock in this region. The size increase in cattle in the Roman period has been partly attributed to interbreeding with imported, larger animals, but there is no proof for this. Strontium isotope analysis of cattle teeth from a rural settlement dating from the Middle Iron Age to the Middle Roman period and of cattle, sheep/goat and pig teeth from a Roman vicus provide new insight into the extent of mobility of livestock as well as into the possible origins of animals. These new data have been combined with zooarchaeological and archaeological data to achieve a more complete picture of animal husbandry and trade in the Iron Age and Roman period.


Author(s): Albarella, Umberto (University of Sheffield) - Groot, Maaike (FU Berlin; University of Sheffield)