Animal Exploitation and Forms of Economic Interaction in Southern and Central Italy during the 13th and 12th Centuries BC

The animal remains from a number of sites located in southern and central Italy and dated to the 13th and 12th centuries BC are discussed in view of our understanding of the dynamics of animal consumption and exploitation during the Recent Bronze Age. The interest in the period is linked to the relationships of Italian Bronze Age sites with the Late Bronze Age seafarers coming from the eastern Mediterranean. The archaeological evidence suggests that different levels of contact, from exchange of raw materials and luxury items to circulation of technology and models of production did stimulate changes in social organisationorganization and the economy. Changes in husbandry practices and livestock types, the role of hunting, the exploitation of particular animal resources and the appearance of exotic animals are investigated in order to understand to what extent the main economic, social and political developments that occurred in Italy during the Late Bronze Age are reflected in animal management and diet; in addition, it is investigated whether changes in animal exploitation eventually concerned only part of the peninsula, and particularly those sites that were active in the exchange network within the Mediterranean. The resulting pattern shows a complete self-sufficiency in activities of subsistence through the entire Bronze Age; such self-sufficiency relied on the contributions from agricultural and husbandry practices. Hunting must have been of secondary importance to the economies and the communities examined, although fluctuations probably reflecting local choices have been observed. A substantial increase in sheep/goat frequency at the expense of cattle characterised the economy of Recent Bronze Age sites. Mortality data suggest that pork and mutton production and the use of cattle for ploughing were the main outputs of husbandry practices during the Bronze Age. A trend towards a more diversified exploitation and a major use of secondary products is observed for the Late Bronze Age. The appearance of exotic animals and the exploitation of exotic animals and exotic raw material of likely eastern Mediterranean origin also represent significant evidence for economic change resulting from the relationship between the Aegean area and communities located in Italy.