Archaeozoological study on the Bronze Age Alpine settlement Savognin-Padnal in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland

Numerous animal bones were excavated from the Bronze Age Alpine settlement, Savognin-Padnal, located in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland. More than 40,000 bone specimens were examined to clarify the human-animal relationship in the settlement. Animal species were identified for approximately 26,400 bone specimens. The most important animal was cattle, whose frequency increased during the Late Bronze Age. Moreover, the increased presence of bones from senile adult cattle suggested that a change in cattle exploitation from primary to secondary products occurred during the Late Bronze Age. I argue that this was due to the economic background influenced by culture. However, there were no changes in the body size of cattle, or the size and shape of pig teeth, indicating stable animal husbandry practices in terms of breeding management during this time. I discuss that geographical and topographical factors probably influenced the lack of change in size and shape of domestic animals. These findings contribute to a profound understanding of Alpine pastoralism during the Bronze Age.