Evaluation of the animal husbandry economy and meat consumption in the early and classical developmental phases of the Lusatian culture in Witów, site 1, Koszyce commune

il. ; 29 cm

ill. ; 29 cm

Archaeological excavations conducted since 2002 in Witów, site 1, Koszyce commune have provided a large collection of animal bone remains. Analysis of this source category became the basis for evaluating the economic model in the early and classical developmental phases of the Lusatian settlement on this site. In both analyzed chronological periods, the basis for obtaining meat was animal husbandry. The dominant component in the analyzed collection is that of cattle bone remains, followed by sheep and goats as well as pigs in third place. Such species distribution indicates a plant cultivation/animal husbandry economy with a large share of pastoral traditions. One of the important areas of natural resource management was the collection of freshwater bivalves, which probably resulted from natural conditions. The low percentage of wild animal remains indicates that hunting played a marginal role in the sphere of economic activity of the communities analyzed. The lack of noticeable transformations in the domestic animals management system suggests that the economic model chosen in the early settlement phase turned out to be the most optimal strategy in relation to the environmental realities. A comparative analysis of the animal husbandry economy in Witów with other settlements of the Lusatian culture in Małopolska (Lesser Poland) and Śląsk (Silesia) showed some common trends. The obtained results indicate that apart from environmental pressure, cultural considerations and animal husbandry tradition to some extent determined the choice of the economic model