A Contribution to Understanding Holocene Biodiversity: The Spatiotemporal Distribution of Wild Mammals in the Central Balkans

ABSTRACT The Central Balkans, a long‐standing biodiversity hotspot, has been a key wildlife habitat for millennia. This study analyzes archeozoological data on wild mammals from Holocene sites in the region and the adjacent southern Great Pannonian Plain to explore the patterns of wildlife dynamics (species richness, ratios, and biogeographical changes) over time. The results indicate that subsistence shifts and human activities shaped faunal diversity and spatiotemporal distributions, with climate fluctuations possibly also playing a role. Major changes began in the mid‐5th millennium bce and intensified throughout the historical periods. Understanding past biodiversity trends highlights the value of historical data for modern conservation efforts.