The earliest record of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in northern Europe

• Remains of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) recovered from a late Bronze Age (1200-800 sc) settlement in central Sweden are described. The house sparrow is conspicuously rare in prehistoric Europe, and this record constitutes the earliest from the northern part. The find predates the introduction of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) to Sweden, a species with which the house sparrow has been assumed to be spread simultaneously. Instead, it is here suggested that house sparrows most likely spread over Europe along with the horse Equus caballus. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- Archaeology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Evolutionsbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Evolutionary Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

archaeozoology

biogeography

passer domesticus

commensalism

bronze age

sweden

Ecosystems and species history

Ekosystem och arthistoria

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)