Cattle Make the Difference: Variations and Developments of Animal Husbandry in the Central European La Tène Culture

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The analysis of animal bones and teeth from archaeological excavations is of great significance to better understand aspects of past human societies. The present study focuses on the analysis of the Middle La Tène period faunal material from the settlement of Haselbach in Lower Austria, one of the biggest archaeozoological assemblages from present-day Austria. The study of the faunal material exhibits features of urbanization, similar to the settlement of Roseldorf (Lower Austria), 35 km northwest of Haselbach. The archaeozoological results from Haselbach are later compared with other sites from the La Tène period located in Central Europe. The overview of the archaeozoological data suggests major changes especially during the Middle La Tène period probably related to agricultural intensification. Furthermore, after studying the biological profiles (age and sex profiles) of all major domesticated species, especially the age and sex distribution of cattle were used to distinguish different patterns of cattle husbandry. Finally, the presence of different animal populations (especially in the case of cattle) offers crucial evidence on long-distance animal exchange and the growing influence of the South during the pre-Roman late Iron Age. ABSTRACT: The first part of our research focuses on the analysis of animal remains (>6000 identified specimens, NISP) from the Middle La Tène central settlement Haselbach in Lower Austria, one of the largest investigated archaeozoological assemblages of present-day Austria. Based on the age and sex profiles, the faunal assemblage from Haselbach shows characteristics of urbanization and centralization and bears striking similarities to the archaeozoological material of the central settlement of Roseldorf (Lower Austria), some 35 km northwest of Haselbach. The second part of our research discusses the historical and regional context of the archaeozoological results from Haselbach and compares them with other sites, based on a detailed review of published archaeozoological data from the La Tène period (c. 450 BC to the end of the first century BC). In total, 55 faunal assemblages from 46 sites in nine countries in Central Europe, representing different types of sites (lowland settlements, hilltop settlements, central settlements, oppida, assemblages of ritual activity, and mining sites) were examined. The synthesis of the archaeozoological data exhibits different husbandry strategies and suggests major changes, especially during the Middle La Tène period indicating agricultural intensification. The differences in the biological profiles of the major domesticated species are of crucial importance to better understand aspects of socio-economic organization; especially in the case of cattle, age and sex profiles are used to distinguish different patterns of cattle husbandry. Finally, morphometric and recent genetic analyses on cattle bones and teeth from La Tène sites in Central Europe provide new insights into the complex socio-economic behavior as well as long-distance networks, involving animal supply and mobility in an exciting period of change involving centralization and increasing influence from the South during the pre-Roman late Iron Age.