Evaluation of the domestication process in Serbia: Domestication of Neolithic cattle

Abstract

The neolithic settlement Belovode, situated between the two important centres of prehistoric culture: Vinča and Rudna Glava has been only partly investigated. In this study, the Belovode zoological collection was examined with the aim of providing data concerning the character of domesticated and transitional animals and wild ancestral forms inhabiting the Central Balkans during neolithic times. A total of 3487 animal bone fragments have been excavated at the site, so far. It was established that the bone remnants chronologically belong to the period of about 5500 - 4800 years B.C. by radiocarbon dating. Morphological comparison showed that almost 42% of the bone remnants were of bovine origin. In order to define the character of the domesticated or wild ancestors of cattle in East Serbia at that time, the bovine collection was further examined in detail. The total of 18 horns/horn bases allowed morphological comparison and morphometric analysis. The data obtained showed that two different ancestors of domesticated cattle were exploited in Belovode: Bos primigenius and Bos brachyceros. Among the archaeological findings were zoomorphic figurines including ox sculptures the shape and details of wich also indicated cattle farming activity in neolithic Belovode.

Neolitsko naselje Belovode, koje se nalazi između dva značajna preistorijska kulturna centra: Vinče i Rudne Glave je do sada samo delimično istraženo. Ispitivanje paleozoološke kolekcije dobijene dosadašnjim iskopavanjem Belovoda je sprovedeno sa ciljem da se utvrdi status domestikacije tokom neolita u Srbiji i Centralnom Balkanu i opišu odomaćeni i/ili divlji preci domaćih životinja. Do sada je na nalazištu iskopano ukupno 3487 ostataka kostiju životinja. Procenjeno je da osteološki artefakti potiču iz perioda između 5 500 i 4 800 godina pre nove ere. Morfološkom analizom je utvrđeno da 42% ostataka kostiju potiče od goveda. U cilju boljeg poznavanja neolitskih predaka goveda na staništima istočne Srbije, preduzeto je istraživanje ostataka goveda metodom morfološke komparacije. Nalaz 18 rogova i baza rogova je omogućio veoma informativnu komparaciju i morfometrijske analizu. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da su u Belovodu bila zastupljena dva pretka domaćih goveda: Bos primigenius i Bos brachyceros. Arheološki nalaz zoomorfnih figurina, pre svega goveda, relnih oblika i izvajanih detalja takođe ukazuju na razvijeni uzgoj goveda u naselju Belovode.