How Do We Know an Animal is Domesticated?
A human skill vital to our survival has been our ability to convert wild animals that we hunt or avoid into ones we can rely on and live with. But how do archaeologists tell that a bunch of bones from an archaeological site belong to domesticated animals or wild?
Top Signs of Domestication in Animals
The mechanism of domestication is an evolutionary one, and so slow; the evidence for domestication of a particular animal may be difficult to ascertain. Here are some ways archaeologists use to determine if an animal has been domesticated.
The mechanism of domestication is an evolutionary one, and so slow; the evidence for domestication of a particular animal may be difficult to ascertain. Here are some ways archaeologists use to determine if an animal has been domesticated.
Mark of Domestication: Body Morphology
One indication that a particular group of animals might be domesticated is a difference in body size and shape between a population and animals found in the wild, called morphology.
One indication that a particular group of animals might be domesticated is a difference in body size and shape between a population and animals found in the wild, called morphology.
Mark of Domestication: Burials
How the remains of an animal are buried has implications about its status as a domesticate.
How the remains of an animal are buried has implications about its status as a domesticate.
Mark of Domestication: Demography and Mortality Profiles
Building and examining a mortality profile of an archaeological assemblage of animal bones, specifically the demographic spread of the animals represented, is one way that archaeologists identify the effects of domestication.
Building and examining a mortality profile of an archaeological assemblage of animal bones, specifically the demographic spread of the animals represented, is one way that archaeologists identify the effects of domestication.
Mark of Domestication: Diet
A domesticated animal will eat differently than one in the wild, normally.
A domesticated animal will eat differently than one in the wild, normally.
Mark of Domestication: Site Assemblages
Site assemblages--the content and layout of settlements--hold clues to the presence of domesticated animals.
Site assemblages--the content and layout of settlements--hold clues to the presence of domesticated animals.