Propylaeum

Volume 18 of the series Forschungsberichte des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Halle, published by the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt has been put online as the first volume of the series in Propylaeum-eBOOKS. Various early farming cultures populated the Middle Elbe-Saale region between 4200 and 2800 BC. Animal bones from two crucial sites, Wallendorf "Hutberg" and Salzmünde "Schiepzig", were analyzed and compared with faunal remains from 29 other pertinent published sites to demonstrate the cultural diversity involved in the development of animal use. In total, more than 33,000 animal remains were statistically evaluated using archaeozoological methods. The results show that food production was mainly based on cattle breeding and that certain sites showed evidence of specialization in the animal species and animal products used. Moreover, symbolic practices demonstrate that communities showed a particular appreciation of specific animals, who thus had a unique relationship with people.