The Neolithic tell as a multi-species monument: Human, animal, and plant relationships through a micro-contextual study of animal dung remains at Koutroulou Magoula, central Greece

Abstract

Neolithic tells are traditionally considered synonymous to prolonged and persistent human activity. In this paper, micro-contextual examination of dung-related evidence at the Neolithic tell of Koutroulou Magoula, central Greece challenges this anthropocentric view. Thin section analysis demonstrates the abundance of dung indicators – including faecal spherulites, phytoliths, phosphatic impregnative features, and microlaminated fabrics – within a range of deposits and contexts across the site; such evidence was observed in built and unbuilt spaces, and enabled identification of possible penning areas and documentation of the use of dung as fuel source. Targeted archaeobotanical and phytolith analyses of dung-rich deposits point to diverse animal feeding practices and joint human-animal engagement with a range of ecological resources. Based on this integrated evidence which illustrates the significance of animals in co-creating and sharing living environments with humans at Koutroulou Magoula, we argue for the value of a multi-species perspective in Neolithic research.