Tracking Wild boar and Hunters Osteology of wild boar in Mesolithic South Scandinavia

Abstract: This thesis deals with the hunting of wild boar during the Mesolithic in South Scandinavia and the relationship between humans and wild game. The study is based on an analysis of osteological remains from sites in Scania, Sweden, dating from the Late Maglemose Culture to the Early Ertebølle Culture. Tooth development and tooth wear in recent populations from Poland, Germany and Sweden have been studied in order to evaluate and improve the methodology for ageing remains of wild boar. The taphonomic history of bone assemblages has been studied by analysis of the relationship between skeletal part frequencies and bone density and of utility index, bone fragmentation, cut marks, marrow fracturing, carnivore gnawing and spatial distribution. Osteometric analysis shows that the body size of wild boar during the Atlantic does not decrease, as has been shown for red deer and roe deer. The large body size indicates favourable environmental conditions for wild boar during the Atlantic in South Scandinavia. Analysis of age and sex profiles reveals two hunting strategies for wild boar. At the sites Ageröd I:HC and Bredasten the prey selection of adults and females indicates a harvest that optimises the short-term return rates and the use of selective hunting methods. The age profiles from Ringsjöholm and Tågerup consist mainly of juveniles and reveal harvesting that reflects the population structure of wild boar; this is the result of unselective hunting methods, such as communal drives. Estimation of season of death indicates that hunting of wild boar seems to have been concentrated in summer and autumn, while red deer was mainly hunted in late autumn and early winter. Hunting pressure during the Mesolithic in South Scandinavia seems to have been relatively high, affecting the wild game populations, as indicated by age profiles and decreasing abundance of taxa in faunal remains. The impact depletion of wild game had on Mesolithic society and the social, ideological and symbolic importance of hunting, consumption of meat and wild game animals during the Mesolithic is also discussed.