Description

Summary: One of a number of mouse bones from a number of different environmental samples taken during excavations of the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age midden site at Blackberry Field, Potterne.

Research results

Mouse bones from an environmental sample taken during excavations of the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age midden site at Blackberry Field, Potterne. These remains were examined by Rodriguez (2019) who found that it belonged to the species Apodemus sylvaticus, better known as the Wood mouse, and was not further sampled as part of their study of m. m. domesticus. The bone was found in the same pit as a piece of charcoal dating to 1460-990 cal. BC, but has been sugested to be intrusive.

These bones were sampled by Rodriguez (2019) as part of their phylogeographical study of mammalian populations (including humans) since the Last Glacial Maximum, c. 12,000 years ago. Rodriguez' study sought to compare different mammal populations across Europe to provide better insight into how populations have moved across the continent in the holocene, and has suggested that the true picture may be more complex than simple pattern of southern refuges. They also investigate to what extent commensal species, such as the house mouse, can be used to infer human population movements; in particular attempting to trace the route by which one species of house mouse spread from the Near East and Cyprus to Britain.