Development of sheep populations in Estonia as indicated by archaeofaunal evidence and ancient mitochondrial DNA lineages from the Bronze Age to the Modern Period
Date
2016-10-18
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Abstract
Lammas (Ovis aries) on alates hilispronksiajast olnud üks enimkasvatatud kariloomi Eestis. Tänapäeval moodustab lambakasvatus Eestis väikese, kuid järjest olulisema osa põllumajandusest. Tuginedes zooarheoloogilisele leiuainesele ja geneetilisele andmestikule, on väitekirja eesmärk uurida lambakasvatust ning lammaste emaliinide ajalugu Eestis ja laiemalt Läänemere kultuuriruumis keskmisest pronksiajast (u 1200 eKr) tänapäevani. Töö zooarheoloogiline pool keskendub hilisrauaajale ja keskajale Viljandis ja Karksis ning loomsete saaduste tarbimisharjumustele ajas ja ruumis. Geneetiline osa analüüsib emaliini pidi pärandatavat mitokondriaalset DNA-d vanades lambaleidudes ja ka tänapäevastes Kihnu maalammastes. Uurimusest selgub, et lambakasvatus ja lammaste tarvitamine toiduks on Eestis olnud pronksiajast peale üsna järjepidev. Siiski ilmnevad mõned murranguajad, millele tuleb seletust otsida laiemal ajaloolisel taustal. Need muudatused seostuvad kahe perioodiga. Esiteks üleminek muinasajalt keskajale koos 13. sajandi alguse ristisõdadega. Geneetilises andmestikus väljendub see lambapopulatsiooni suurenemises, mis on toimunud kohaliku talumajanduse ja olemasolevate loomade baasil, ning mis võib olla tingitud sellest, et keskajal kasvas koos rahvaarvuga ka kariloomade hulk. Teine murrang ilmneb seoses suure tõuaretusega 19. sajandil, mil eeskätt Lääne-Euroopast sisse toodud tõugudega hakati kohalike lammaste liha- ja villatootlikkust parandama. Hoolimata sellest on algupärased põliste tunnustega maalambad, eeskätt Kihnu maalammas, säilinud tänapäevani, kuigi mõnevõrra väiksema geneetilise mitmekesisusega.
Sheep (Ovis aries) has been one of the most exploited domestic animal in Estonia since the Late Bronze Age. Today, sheep husbandry forms a small, but important part in Estonian agriculture. By using zooarchaeological and genetic data, the aim of the dissertation is to study sheep husbandry and the development of maternal lineages in Estonia and more widely, in the Baltic Sea region, from the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1200 BC) until the present-day. The zooarchaeological part of the thesis focuses on animal consumption in Late Iron Age and medieval Viljandi and Karksi, and tackles the changes in proportion and exploitation of faunal resources over time. The genetic part of the research aims to analyse the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA both in the ancient populations and modern Kihnu native sheep. The results of the study indicate that, starting from the Bronze Age, sheep husbandry and utilisation in Estonia has been rather persistent. Nonetheless, changes occurred, which could mainly be related to two distinct periods. Firstly, the transition from prehistory to the Middle Ages, including the 13th century Crusades. Genetically it is expressed in population expansion, possibly linked to the overall increase in human population and the demand for meat supplies. Moreover, the growth of the populations seems to have relied on local herds, while the effect of imported animals was probably insignificant. Secondly, changes came along with the beginning of the large-scale breeding in the 19th century, aimed to improve the local production of mutton and wool. With slightly decreased genetic diversity, the local sheep, including the Kihnu native sheep, have been preserved up to the present.
Sheep (Ovis aries) has been one of the most exploited domestic animal in Estonia since the Late Bronze Age. Today, sheep husbandry forms a small, but important part in Estonian agriculture. By using zooarchaeological and genetic data, the aim of the dissertation is to study sheep husbandry and the development of maternal lineages in Estonia and more widely, in the Baltic Sea region, from the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1200 BC) until the present-day. The zooarchaeological part of the thesis focuses on animal consumption in Late Iron Age and medieval Viljandi and Karksi, and tackles the changes in proportion and exploitation of faunal resources over time. The genetic part of the research aims to analyse the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA both in the ancient populations and modern Kihnu native sheep. The results of the study indicate that, starting from the Bronze Age, sheep husbandry and utilisation in Estonia has been rather persistent. Nonetheless, changes occurred, which could mainly be related to two distinct periods. Firstly, the transition from prehistory to the Middle Ages, including the 13th century Crusades. Genetically it is expressed in population expansion, possibly linked to the overall increase in human population and the demand for meat supplies. Moreover, the growth of the populations seems to have relied on local herds, while the effect of imported animals was probably insignificant. Secondly, changes came along with the beginning of the large-scale breeding in the 19th century, aimed to improve the local production of mutton and wool. With slightly decreased genetic diversity, the local sheep, including the Kihnu native sheep, have been preserved up to the present.
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Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsioone.
Keywords
luuleiud, luuarheoloogia, zooarheoloogia, geneetika, arheogeneetika, lammas, populatsioonid (biol.), mitokondriaalne DNA, lambakasvatus, tõuaretus, ajalugu, Eesti, bone remains, osteoarchaeology, zooarchaeology, genetics, archaeogenetics, sheep, populations (biology), mitochondrial DNA, sheep farming, breeding, history, Estonia