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The study examines changes in cattle farming between the Iron Age and the Roman period in the Netherlands. There are regional differences in the frequency, management, size, and shape of cattle. The western and northern regions had higher proportions of cattle, while the southern region had the lowest proportions. The size of cattle did not significantly increase until the Roman period, and only in the regions that were part of the Roman Empire. There are also differences in gender ratios and the size of cattle in different regions and time periods. The size of cattle generally increases during the early and middle Roman period. There are also regional differences, with the southern region having the largest cattle, possibly due to intensive agriculture. The use of cow's milk was limited and decreased during the Roman period. Overall, the study shows that Roman occupation had an influence on cattle farming, particularly on the size of the animals and their use as meat suppliers and draft animals. [Extracted from the article]

The essay "Burying the Heroes: Identifying the Archaeological Background of the Homeric Burial" by Antonis Kourkoulakos discusses the historical and cultural significance of Homeric burial customs. The author argues that Homeric burial customs are the result of a mixture of traditions, contemporary customs, and collective memory. By examining archaeological findings and written sources, possible origins of Homeric burial customs are proposed. It is noted that burial practices in Anatolia show similarities to Homeric traditions, particularly regarding cremation and the use of urns. There are also similarities between the burial tradition in the Iliad and archaeological findings in Greece, the Aegean, and the Balkans. It is speculated that these similarities could indicate a connection between the Mediterranean and Central European regions. The western Balkan region appears to have been the area where the tumulus tradition originated and spread over a large area in the following centuries. Therefore, the epics are not only a marvel of early Greek poetry, but rather an example of the first truly "European" (and indeed Anatolian) literary work. [Extracted from the article]