THE EARLIEST RECORD OF HOUSE SPARROWS (PASSER-DOMESTICUS) IN NORTHERNEUROPE

Remains of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) recovered from a late Bronze Age (1200-800 sc) settlement in central Sweden are described. The house sparrow is conspicuously rare in prehistoric Europe, and thi s record constitutes the earliest from the northern part. The find pre dates the introduction of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) to Sweden, a s pecies with which the house sparrow has been assumed to be spread simu ltaneously. Instead, it is here suggested that house sparrows most lik ely spread over Europe along with the horse Equus caballus. (C) 1997 A cademic Press Limited