Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/29703
Title: Tracking the Near Eastern origins and European dispersal of the western house mouse
Contributor(s): Cucchi, Thomas (author); Papayianni, Katerina (author); Cersoy, Sophie (author); Aznar-Cormano, Laetitia (author); Zazzo, Antoine (author); Debruyne, Regis (author); Berthon, Remi (author); Balasescu, Adrian (author); Simmons, Alan (author); Valla, Francois (author); Hamilakis, Yannis (author); Mavridis, Fanis (author); Mashkour, Marjan (author); Darvish, Jamshid (author); Siahsarvi, Roohollah (author); Biglari, Fereidoun (author); Petrie, Cameron A (author); Weeks, Lloyd  (author)orcid ; Sardari, Alireza (author); Maziar, Sepideh (author); Denys, Christiane (author); Orton, David (author); Jenkins, Emma (author); Zeder, Melinda (author); Searle, Jeremy B (author); Larson, Greger (author); Bonhomme, Francois (author); Auffray, Jean-Christophe (author); Vigne, Jean-Denis (author)
Publication Date: 2020-05-19
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64939-9
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/29703
Abstract: The house mouse (Mus musculus) represents the extreme of globalization of invasive mammals. However, the timing and basis of its origin and early phases of dispersal remain poorly documented. To track its synanthropisation and subsequent invasive spread during the develoment of complex human societies, we analyzed 829 Mus specimens from 43 archaeological contexts in Southwestern Asia and Southeastern Europe, between 40,000 and 3,000 cal. BP, combining geometric morphometrics numerical taxonomy, ancient mitochondrial DNA and direct radiocarbon dating. We found that large late hunter-gatherer sedentary settlements in the Levant, c. 14,500 cal. BP, promoted the commensal behaviour of the house mouse, which probably led the commensal pathway to cat domestication. House mouse invasive spread was then fostered through the emergence of agriculture throughout the Near East 12,000 years ago. Stowaway transport of house mice to Cyprus can be inferred as early as 10,800 years ago. However, the house mouse invasion of Europe did not happen until the development of proto urbanism and exchange networks - 6,500 years ago in Eastern Europe and 4000 years ago in Southern Europe - which in turn may have driven the first human mediated dispersal of cats in Europe.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Scientific Reports, v.10, p. 1-12
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Place of Publication: United KIngdom
ISSN: 2045-2322
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 210103 Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Americas
210105 Archaeology of Europe, the Mediterranean and the Levant
210102 Archaeological Science
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 430104 Archaeology of Europe, the Mediterranean and the Levant
430102 Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Americas
430101 Archaeological science
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 970121 Expanding Knowledge in History and Archaeology
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 280113 Expanding knowledge in history, heritage and archaeology
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

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