Prehistoric Herders More Sophisticated Than Scientists Realized

Prehistoric herders in the high mountains kept small, diverse animal herds. Find how a new study reveals that their animal husbandry practices were far more sophisticated than previously thought.

I was born on a farm here in Canada. My parents both came from a long line of farmers that stretched back to victorian Britain and beyond.

Our family grew crops and managed a herd of Ayrshire cattle as a dairy operation. We also kept pigs, chickens, rabbits and sometimes even a few goats.

I say we managed a herd, because agriculture is an economic enterprise involving complex strategies. That was especially true in our location, which had a relatively short growing season and harsh winters.

Agriculture Dates Back to the Stone Age

Agriculture dates back to the stone age, specifically the new stone age, or neolithic, period. Pioneer archeologists discovered prehistoric agricultural societies in the 19th century.

The cultural-historical movement focused on studying artifacts and connecting them with cultural traits. From this, scholars recognized that agriculture was…