Recent discoveries in a European rock shelter have revealed ancient DNA indicating that local herders engaged in the domestication of goats and sheep over 5,000 years ago. However, evidence shows a significant shift occurred 2,000 years later, with herders predominantly raising pigs, coinciding with a marked decline in biodiversity in surrounding forests.
While additional research is necessary to fully understand the implications, these findings suggest that the preference for pigs—known for their rooting behavior and less selective feeding habits compared to goats and sheep—may have influenced the ecological structure of modern forests. This groundbreaking research underscores the potential of analyzing ancient sedimentary DNA to uncover significant insights into historical farming practices and their environmental impacts.
