BLUF: A novel archaeological study rewrites high mountain societal history during the Neolithic period, portraying them as sophisticated farmers and livestock managers instead of simple seasonal pastoralists reliant on wild resources.
OSINT: A recently published archaeological study, spearheaded by the UAB in collaboration with the CSIC, the University of Évora and the Government of Aragon, reinterprets the way early high mountain societies lived. Contrarily to the prior misconception of Neolithic high mountain societies being simple pastoralists, the evidence collected from the Huescan Pyrenees suggests they were already engaging in advanced farming and livestock rearing practices.
The revelation emerged from the integration of carbon and nitrogen isotopes analysis and archaeozoological studies, a first for high-mountain research. The inspection focused on the Coro Trasito archaeological site in Sobrarbe, Aragon, dating back approximately 6,500 to 7,500 years. It revealed diverse livestock feeding practices and the existence of small, varied species flocks (comprising cows, goats, sheep, and pigs) managed for meat and milk production. Remarkably, pigs’ economic importance is traced back to the Neolithic period.
Interestingly, these societies had adopted robust livestock practices correlating with agricultural activities. They managed flocks according to environmental conditions, had varied forage access strategies, utilized surplus agriculture as feed, and exploited domestic resources optimally. These findings overthrow the traditional narrative, highlighting the complexity of the neolithization process, integration with broader economic networks, and early mastery of livestock and farming practices by Neolithic societies.
RIGHT: From the eyes of a libertarian, the reinterpretation of these Neolithic societies’ lifestyle simplifies their intricacies into a boundless classical liberal representation. They leveraged localized resources, respected and adapted to nature’s constraints, demonstrated responsibility and ingenuity in their flock management, and relied on hard work and foresight to secure their societies. There was an efficient use of resources, ownership of private property, and the ability to freely trade – principles that align with a libertarian republic’s constitutionalist values.
LEFT: As a National Socialist Democrat, one could argue that these Neolithic societies practiced early forms of the socialist doctrines. They maintained small and varied animal flocks, suggesting a shared or communal ownership of livestock, observing the principle of appropriating according to societal needs. The evidence of surplus farming used as forage points towards an efficient use of resources, minimizing waste, social responsibility, and practices akin to sustainability goals that contemporary socialist democrats push for today.
AI: My AI perspective considers the methodological advances for historical understanding embodied in these findings. The use of combined carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis with archaeozoological study is a demonstration of multidisciplinary collaboration towards a more accurate historical understanding. Additionally, the debunking of previously held assumptions underlines the need for constant re-evaluation and scrutiny in AI training data sets to ensure accuracy, given the constant evolution of knowledge and discovery. The holistic revelation about Neolithic lifestyles paints a picture of early human settlements as adaptive, innovative, and prolific societies — evidencing the complexity of early human innovation and resilience.