Hi, Mark: We have LOTS of Passer domesticus from the only level/context at
Roman Vindolanda that was ever sieved. The bones are from disassociated
owl pellets. If you don't have the report I co-authored with Robert Timm
on this (the "East Granary Report"), let me know by reply and I'll send
you the .pdf (and also to anyone else who wants a copy). Hope this will be
of assistance -- Dr. Deb
> Hello list members,
>
> I am a researcher at the Centre of Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis
> in Oslo working on the evolutionary history of Passer sparrows. One of the
> main aims of my current project is to use contemporary genomic data to
> test the hypothesis that the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) spread into
> Europe with the introduction of agriculture. I am an evolutionary
> biologist and my main specialist is genomic analysis, but I would like to
> develop a more detailed understanding of the earliest dates that sparrows
> are known to associate with human settlements. Ideally, I would like to
> try to use these dates as lower limits for a model on the demographic
> expansion of sparrows into Europe.
>
> So far I am aware of at least one
> paper<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440396901028>
> (and references therein) that reports the oldest record of sparrows in
> Northern Europe. However, I am really interested to find out more about
> the occurrence of sparrows in the archaeological record across Europe,
> North Africa and the Middle East. From what I understand, sparrow bones
> are most likely to be found at extensively sieved sites - which may
> introduce some bias into where they have been observed. Nonetheless, I
> would be really grateful to hear from you if you have come across sparrows
> (or other small birds that might be sparrows) during your work.
> Suggestions of literature would also be very welcome.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Mark
>
> ------------------------------------------
> Mark Ravinet
> Researcher
> CEES Oslo
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
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