Long-Range Versus Short-Range Prehistoric Pastoralism. Potential of Palaeoecological Proxies and a New Record from Western Emilia, Northern Apennines, Italy

The timing of the rise of upland pastoralism and the extent of the seasonal mobility of early shepherds are key issues in the later prehistory of the Mediterranean. The archaeological record from Liguria (NW Italy), points to an increasing relevance of animal husbandry since the beginning of the Middle Neolithic, from the 5th millennium BC onwards. Thick stabling deposits and zooarchaeological assemblages from cave sites show the importance of sheep and cattle farming. Moreover, palaeoecological data from bogs and mires have suggested the use of pastures located at mid-high elevations and anthropogenic landscape modifications. The paper re-discusses the debated issue of long- vs short-range transhumant pastoralism in view of the archaeological and palaeoecological data from the region. A new case study is presented: dung spore analysis has been carried out from a high-altitude mire located in western Emilia, suggesting the possibility of a limited environmental impact of the first pastoral groups and of a stable presence of wild ungulates around the site.