Evolution of a Taboo : Pigs and People in the Ancient Near East

Pigs are among the most peculiar animals domesticated in the Ancient Near East.Their story, from domestication to taboo, has fascinated historians, archaeologists, and religious studies scholars for decades.Rejecting simple explanations, this book adopts an evolutionary approach that relies on zooarchaeology and texts to unravel the cultural significance of swine in the Near East from the Paleolithic to the present day.Five major themes are covered: The domestication of the pig from wild boars in the Neolithic period, the unique roles that pigs developed in agricultural economies before and after the development of complex societies, the raising of swine in cities, the shifting ritual roles of pigs, and the formation and development of the pork taboo in Judaism and, later, Islam.The origins and significance of this taboo have inspired much debate.Evolution of a Taboo contends that the well-known taboo described in Leviticus evolved over time, beginning with conflicts between Israelites