ABSTRACT
Botanists, zoologists and archaeologists interested in the problems of domestication have naturally been concerned with the "direct" evidence, which may be "cultural" or "non-cultural". Some archaeologists have accepted a number of other cultural traits associated with early farming communities in Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa as diagnostic of the beginnings of domestication only "indirect" evidence and of very limited value. The indirect non-cultural evidence has been much less considered than the direct. This is unfortunate for it is probably from it, and not from the cultural evidence that the beginnings of domestication in most areas will be recognized. The indirect cultural evidence comprises most of the material found in excavations, for it takes its final proof of being connected with farmers or pastoralists, from non-cultural evidence. Indirect zoological evidence of animal husbandry has been much considered and it may be that too much attention has been paid to it in considering the beginnings of domestication.
