Economic and settlement patterns in south-eastern Europe during the Neolithic
Date
1980
Authors
Kingham, Gwyneth Elaine
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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine economic and settlement variation in south-eastern Europe during the Neolithic and to offer possible explanations for why this variation occurred.
By gathering as much quantified faunal data as possible and by examining the available floral data certain differences between the northern and southern Balkans became apparent. The reliance on sheep and goats and on domesticated animals was greater in all periods in the southern Balkans. In northern Balkan sites bones of cattle were usually more frequent than those of sheep and goats, except during the early Neolithic, and in all periods wild animals were of greater importance in these sites than in those of the southern Balkans.
Among the crops planted, legumes were important in the southern Balkans in all periods, but were absent from northern Balkan sites.
It is suggested that these differences are related to climate, since within the Balkan region there are two major climatic zones: the Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers, and the Humid Continental, with maximum precipitation falling in late spring and early summer.
The relationship between fauna and climate is assessed using two by two tables and Tau as a measure of association. The results of these tests show that a relationship between fauna and climate does exist.
It is also proposed that settlement patterns were strongly affected by economy. The relationship between economy and site longevity is assessed. Again a moderate relationship was shown to exist, although environment can not be rejected as the determining factor. But a close relationship between environment and settleĀment pattern would be expected because of the close relationship between economy and environment.
The effect of soil, topographic, and vegetational conditions on economy are also considered. The view is taken that the climatic effect on the economy is increased by these three factors, which are all ultimately related to climate itself. By further study of these factors the relationship between agriculture and herdĀing, which remains uncertain, may become more clear.
Our understanding of Neolithic economy will be very much increased by further regional studies relating environmental factors to economics.