Результаты архео- и этнозоологических исследований на поселении позднего бронзового века Черноречье-2

Abstract

Abstract: The work is devoted to the analysis of archaeozoological and ethnozoological materials, which are represented by the settlement of Chernorechye-2 and modern animal husbandry in the valley of the Uy river. The main period of the settlement’s functioning is associated with the Alakul culture of the Late Bronze Age of the Southern Urals (the 17th — 15th centuries BC). The aim of the article is to reconstruct various aspects of animal husbandry based on the analysis of the bones of livestock and data obtained while studying the section of the river valley adjacent to the site. The bones from the Chernorechye-2 settlement of were analyzed using standard and generally accepted archaeozoological methods. Analysis of the archaeozoological collection made it possible to reconstruct the cattle-breeding character of the settlement throughout its entire existence. The inhabitants of the site comprehensively exploited cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Paleopathological analysis revealed no basis for reconstructing the working use of bulls and horses. Joint analysis of archaeozoological and ethnozoological data allows us to propose a settled model form of pastoralism as the highest priority for the Chernorechye-2 settlement. Part of the area of the settlement buildings could be used as a stall for livestock. Keywords: South Urals, Late Bronze Age, Alakul culture, pastoralism, paleopathology, osteochondrosis, osteophagia, cattle, caprines, horse Acknowledgements: Excavations of the settlement were carried out within the framework of the international project Wenner Gren Anthropological Foundation “Uy River Valley Communities of Practice Project” No. 9542. I would like to express my gratitude to the team of archaeologists of the UC for the Study of the Problems of Nature and Man of Chelyabinsk State University for the opportunity to work with materials and study the valley of the Uy River. I would also like to express thanks to Christina I. Barrón-Ortiz, Deb Bennett and William Taylor, and other members of the ZOOARCH community for advice on the horse bones and the literature provided. Special thanks to the reviewers of the article whose comments allowed us to improve the work.