New evidence of the presence of wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) in Finland during early Holocene: Dispersal restricted by snow and hunting?

Abstract

New radiocarbon dates from bones of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) found in archaeological contexts in Finland indicate the presence of the species in Southern Finland c. 9000–8000 cal. BP, that is, before the Holocene thermal optimum. However, the number of wild boar was never large enough to support a permanent population. Reasons for the scarcity of wild boars even during the warmer periods may have been the thick snow cover, the growing human population near the distribution route, as well as hunting.