The Domestication of Pigs: A Parallel to Cattle Domestication

Pigs were domesticated around the same time as cattle, in the 4th millennium BCE, though some genetic studies suggest a much earlier domestication event. They likely originated from only two wild species, reflecting a relatively limited genetic lineage compared to other domesticated animals.

Origins of Domesticated Pigs

• Near East and Europe – The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) was domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, later spreading into Anatolia and Europe.
• East Asia – The Asian wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus) was independently domesticated in China and Southeast Asia, leading to genetically distinct pig breeds.

Evidence for Earlier Domestication

• A 1994 study suggested that pigs may have been domesticated much earlier than previously believed, with evidence pointing to pre-Neolithic interactions between humans and wild boars.
• Recent genetic analyses suggest that pig domestication may have begun as early as 9000 BCE in some regions, coinciding with the earliest Neolithic farming cultures.

Impact of Pig Domestication

• Pigs became a crucial livestock species, providing:
  • Meat as a high-calorie food source
  • Skins and bones for tools and materials
• Unlike cattle and sheep, pigs were more suited to settled agricultural life, thriving on human food waste and requiring less grazing land.
• Over time, domesticated pigs spread through trade and migration, leading to the emergence of regional pig breeds adapted to different environments.

The domestication of pigs and cattle marked a fundamental shift in early agricultural societies, supporting food surpluses, permanent settlements, and economic specialization in Neolithic cultures across Eurasia.