Did the first farmers of central and eastern Europe produce dairy foods?
Open accessAbstract
Although the origins of domestic animals have been well-documented, it is unclear when livestock were first exploited for secondary products, such as milk. The analysis of remnant fats preserved in ceramic vessels from two agricultural sites in central and eastern Europe dating to the Early Neolithic (5900-5500 cal BC) are best explained by the presence of milk residues. On this basis, the authors suggest that dairying featured in early European farming economies. The evidence is evaluated in the light of analysis of faunal remains from this region to determine the scale of dairying. It is suggested that dairying—perhaps of sheep or goats—was initially practised on a small scale and was part of a broad mixed economy.
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- Authors
- Craig, O. E., Chapman, J., Heron, C., Willis, L. H., Bartosiewicz, L., Taylor, G., Whittle, A., & Collins, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- Durham University (GB)
- University of Bradford (GB)
- Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- Cardiff University (GB)
- University of York (GB)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Antiquity
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2005-12
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 306
- Pages
- 882-894
- ISSN
- 0003-598X (ISSN-L)
- 1745-1744
- OpenAlex
- W2112338078
- Cited by
- 188
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 11.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.tees.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Antiquity (publishedVersion)
- Teesside University Research Portal (Teesside University) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- TeesRep (Teesside University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Bradford Scholars (University of Bradford) (submittedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Funders
- University of Bradford
- British Academy
- Cardiff University
- Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
- Arts and Humanities Research Board
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Keywords
- dairy production, milk residues, Early Neolithic, first farmers, livestock domestication, sheep and goats, faunal remains, mixed economy, Central and Eastern Europe, prehistoric agriculture
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