Animal keeping in Chalcolithic north-central Anatolia: what can stable isotope analysis add?

Catriona Pickard,Rosalind Gillis,Ulf-Dietrich Schoop,László Bartosiewicz,Kerry L Sayle

doi:10.1007/s12520-016-0386-0

Abstract

Stable isotope analysis is an essential investigative technique, complementary to more traditional zooarchaeological approaches to elucidating animal keeping practices. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope values of 132 domesticates (cattle, caprines and pigs) were evaluated to investigate one aspect of animal keeping, animal forage, at the Late Chalcolithic (mid-fourth millennium BC) site of Çamlıbel Tarlası, which is located in north-central Anatolia. The analyses indicated that all of the domesticates had diets based predominantly on C3 plants. Pig and caprine δ13C and δ15N values were found to be statistically indistinguishable. However, cattle exhibited distinctive stable isotope values and, therefore, differences in diet from both pigs and caprines at Çamlıbel Tarlası. This difference may relate to the distinct patterns of foraging behaviour exhibited by the domesticates. Alternatively, this diversity may result from the use of different grazing areas or from the foddering practices of the Çamlıbel Tarlası inhabitants.

Highlights

Archaeological research in north-central Anatolia has focused predominantly on Late Bronze Age and Iron Age urban sites
Dietary stable isotope studies of animal bones offer a direct means of reconstructing at least one aspect of animal production: the type of forage domesticates had access to or were given. While such information will not be a panacea in understanding herding practices per se, it elucidates a new dimension directly relevant to animal keeping in the Anatolian region
A total of 163 domesticated animal bone specimens from Çamlıbel Tarlası were measured for δ13C and δ15N to investigate animal forage and human diets in Late Chalcolithic north-central Anatolia—see Table 2 for animal data

Summary

Introduction

Archaeological research in north-central Anatolia has focused predominantly on Late Bronze Age and Iron Age urban sites. Dietary stable isotope studies of animal bones offer a direct means of reconstructing at least one aspect of animal production: the type of forage domesticates had access to or were given. While such information will not be a panacea in understanding herding practices per se, it elucidates a new dimension directly relevant to animal keeping in the Anatolian region. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope analyses of remains from domesticated animals and humans (Pickard et al 2016) from the Late Chalcolithic settlement site of Çamlıbel Tarlası are used to investigate animal diets. The implications of the results for stock-keeping and the consumption of meat and secondary products by a rural farming community in north-central Anatolia are explored

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion