Evaluating caprine remains of the Swedish Funnel Beaker culture through ZooMS

Abstract In northern Europe, the first indications of a Neolithic lifestyle appear around 4000 cal BC from Germany up to middle Sweden and south-eastern Norway in an apparently short period time, largely carried by immigrant populations bringing new species plants animals into region. However, nature this domestication “package” is not everywhere same, whereby both environmental cultural filters acted on particular set cultivated bred different regions. Scandinavia, cattle, pigs, caprines (sheep goat) are all present varying proportions, with cattle more prominent Denmark pigs northerly areas. little known about ratio sheep goat remains within region, due difficulties morphologically separating two species. paper, we report results ZooMS analysis 45 sheep/goat bone samples recently excavated Funnel Beaker settlements Karleby, Falbygden, Sweden. The analyses gave clear somewhat surprising result: 33 were classed as sheep, one deer, none them goat. likelihood, goats have been at these sites. A survey literature shows that while small numbers likely Early Neolithic, their presence time ambiguous few claims merit reassessment. Furthermore, low Scandinavia compared central southern Europe suggests overall geographic trend, decreasing proportions well north.