The Past, Present, and Future of Small Terrestrial Mammals in Human Diets

Small terrestrial mammals have been a part of human diets throughout our history. The archaeological record indicates that in several times and places worldwide, their relative importance increased substantially with increasing human sedentism and population density. This paper examines factors linked to changes in the dietary use of small mammals (1 to 20kg), including their resilience under hunting pressure and their tolerance of various types of human disturbance on landscapes.  We then explore links between archaeological data on the long-term use of small mammals worldwide, and contemporary hunting of wild small mammal species. These comparisons provide a perspective on the potential sustainability of aspects of contemporary small mammal hunting in regions where these animals remain a vital component of human diets.