During the sixth millennium BCE, the first farmers of Central Europe rapidly expanded across a varied mosaic of forested environments. This study assembles multi-regional datasets (stable isotope values from zooarchaeological remains and pottery) to investigate early farmers' exploitation of forests for cattle raising. Findings reveal diverse pasturing strategies, with significant forest use for grazing and seasonal foddering in some regions. This forest-based animal feed enhanced fertility and milk yields, contributing to settlement expansion and forest ecosystem transformation. The study highlights the intricate farmer-forest relationship and adaptive dynamics shaping humans, animals, and environments.

Rosalind E. Gillis, Iain P. Kendall, Mélanie Roffet-Salque, Marco Zanon, Alexandra Anders, Rose-Marie Arbogast, Peter Bogucki, Veronika Brychova, Emmanuelle Casanova, Erich Classen, Piroska Csengeri, Lech Czerniak, László Domboróczki, Denis Fiorillo, Detlef Gronenborn, Lamys Hachem, János Jakucs, Michael Ilett, Kyra Lyublyanovics, Eva Lenneis, Arkadiusz Marciniak, Tibor Marton, Krisztián Oross, Juraj Pavúk, Joachim Pechtl, Joanna Pyzel, Peter Stadler, Harald Stäuble, Ivana Vostrovská, Ivo van Wijk, Jean-Denis Vigne, Marie Balasse, Richard P. Evershed