Lower jaw and front limb bones of wood mice (Apodemus cf. sylvaticus) and blackthorn fruit with gnawing traces by mice. (Photos: Raül Soteras, AgriChange Project)
Lower jaw and front limb bones of wood mice (Apodemus cf. sylvaticus) and blackthorn fruit with gnawing traces by mice. (Photos: Raül Soteras, AgriChange Project) - As early as the Neolithic period, pests posed a threat to agricultural yields, as shown by the remains of mice and insects found in prehistoric wells by a Basel-led archaeological research team. However, there are also indications that people knew how to defend against these pests - for example, by switching to less vulnerable kinds of grain. Around 8,000 years ago, people began creating more permanent settlements in Europe and practicing agriculture. While many research projects have focused on the agricultural practices of that time, they have generally left aside the effect of pests. Particularly for the western Mediterranean region of Europe, there has been almost no record of the occurrence of harmful insects and rodents until now.
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