Multi-isotope evidence shows extensive free-roaming pig husbandry endured in medieval England
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21263660 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gwendoline Maurer (0000-0001-5682-3661, Cardiff University, corresponding author), Kate A Evetts (Darbar), Abigail Matthews (0000-0002-1548-2589, Cardiff University), Joe Chick (0000-0001-5381-361X, Darbar), Lauren Haxley (Cardiff University), Lynne Davies (0000-0003-2066-7008, Cardiff University), Alexandra J Nederbragt (0000-0002-8305-0075, Environmental Earth Sciences), Kerry Sayle (Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre), Morten B Andersen (0000-0002-3130-9794, Cardiff University), Marc-Alban Millet (0000-0003-2710-5374, Cardiff University), R Madgwick (0000-0002-4396-3566, Cardiff University, corresponding author), Ben Jervi (0000-0001-5295-0647, Darbar, corresponding author), Ben Jervis (University of Leicester) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-25 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2813-432X • E-ISSN: 2813-432X |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fearc.2026.1832112 |
| OpenAlex | W7165947702 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 97 |
This study investigates regional variation in pig husbandry in 12th–16th century England and its role in sustaining woodlands, wetlands and small towns. Medieval pig management is often characterised as a transition from forest-dwelling pigs to pigs being increasingly confined in urban sites, a key stage in the evolutionary history of the European domestic pig. However, multi-isotope analysis (δ 13 C, δ 15 N, δ 34 S, 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) of dentine, bone collagen and enamel from 57 pigs (424 measurements) across seven towns, combined with biometric and mortality data, indicates that management strategies remained regionally diverse. The results reveal predominantly extensive, free-roaming systems and demonstrate the resilience of these practices through the demographic and environmental disruptions of the 14th–15th century crises (i.e., Black Death, Great Famine, Little Ice Age). These findings highlight the ecological importance of medieval pig husbandry and its relevance for understanding historically sustainable landscape management
Animal husbandry · Middle Ages · Psychological resilience · Sustainability · Wetland · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |