ABSTRACT
Studies of Middle and Late Neolithic animal bone assemblages conducted by Glass reveal four patterns of animal exploitation. The first three are marked by the predominance of cattle, red deer and pigs, respectively. The fourth pattern is characterised by an almost equal proportion of different domesticated and wild animals. The social and ceremonial importance of animals in the Middle Neolithic remained significant but was demonstrated in different ways and in different settings. Food-related practices in the Middle Neolithic were different from those of the preceding period but were clearly embedded in earlier traditions and practices, albeit significantly modified and transformed by individual communities. Food-related activities of the Funnel Beaker communities varied substantially from the preceding Lengyel Culture. In the vast majority of units of analysis at the Bronocice settlement, pig bones were represented by head/neck bones and a very small proportion of other segments.
