Faunal Bone Research Articles

Integration of animal husbandry and millet agriculture in Bronze Age East-central Eurasia revealed by faunal stable isotopes at the Jirentai Goukou site, Xinjiang

How food globalization in the Bronze Age influenced the economies and societies of regions along the Eurasian continent has attracted widespread attention. As an integral part of this food globalization, previous studies have focused on the impact of the westwards spread of millet crops on the human populations of East-Central Eurasia. However, the relationship between millet crops and key subsistence economies, such as animal husbandry, which humans rely on in East-Central Eurasia, remains unclear. Here, we carry out a new stable isotope study of 68 domesticated faunal bones from Bronze Age Jirentai Goukou site, Xinjiang, and combine about 1500 published stable isotope data of human and faunal bones to explore systemically the relationship between animal husbandry and millet agriculture in Bronze Age East-Central Eurasia. Our study reveals first the integration of animal husbandry and millet agriculture in Bronze Age Xinjiang, which is indicated by the adoption of C4 millet byproducts to feed domesticated sheep/goats and cattle. Further wide-range stable isotopic analysis in Bronze Age East-Central Eurasia highlights the existence of two different patterns in the relationship between animal husbandry and millet agriculture: the Central Plains pattern and the Inner Asia pattern. These differences can be expressed clearly in several aspects, including the species of domesticated herbivores fed, the degree, method and seasonality of feeding sheep/goats and cattle, and the composition of fodder. On this basis, the possible reasons for the different patterns in the relationship between millet agriculture and animal husbandry in East-Central Eurasia are further explored, such as the different histories of agricultural and pastoral development between the Central Plains and Inner Asia, the distinct characteristics of agriculture and pastoralism (sedentary and mobile), and the specific social, economic/political and geographical environments. Our study provides important information for understanding the specific impact of the globalization of millet agriculture on the animal husbandry economy in Bronze Age Eurasia.

New insights on the fauna of Ireland's Younger Dryas and Early Holocene from Alice & Gwendoline Cave

The nature of the mechanisms that have shaped the animal communities of the island of Ireland remains a pervasive question in the study of the Quaternary of north-western Europe. Archived Quaternary faunal bone assemblages from antiquarian excavations of cave sites are a direct line of evidence with demonstrable potential to shed light on this issue, but are currently constrained by limited publication, understanding of early excavation protocols, and a lack of chronological reference. Alice and Gwendoline Cave in the west of Ireland was the subject of extensive excavations in 1902, which yielded a substantial faunal assemblage and the first evidence of an Upper Palaeolithic human presence on the island during the terminal Pleistocene. Here, we report further results from this important site. Archaeological excavations and a radiocarbon dating programme in 2019-2020 have shed light on the environmental context of the faunal assemblage, the cave taphonomy and site chronology. Nineteen radiocarbon dates are now available, including new direct dates for brown bear (Ursus arctos), giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). The archaeological excavations and the analysis of sedimentary lipids – the first of its kind for an Irish cave site, both suggest that the sediments are primarily of exogenous origin, likely carried into the cave through fissures and openings by runoff or colluvial movements. Our analyses indicate that there were at least three main ‘pulses’ of bone-bearing sediment accumulation: at the beginning of the Younger Dryas (c. 12,700 cal. BP), in the aftermath of the Younger Dryas (11,300 cal. BP) and in the Early Holocene (c. 10,000 cal. BP), with a hiatus in sediment deposition after 9700 cal. BP.

Reconciling 22,000 years of landscape openness in a renowned wilderness

AbstractHere, we explore the profound impact of the Tasmanian Aboriginal (Palawa) people on Tasmanian landscapes by examining a 22,000‐year record of landscape change from Lake Selina in western Tasmania, Australia. We analysed a sediment core for palaeoecological proxies, namely, pollen (vegetation), charcoal (fire), and geochemical data (landscape weathering). This study reveals that the contemporary landscape is a product of Palawa people’s intentional and strategic fire management practices characterised by fire‐dependent buttongrass moorland and the absence of climax rainforest. Specifically, our data show that rainforest failed to re‐establish a dominance at Lake Selina following the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, as temperature and moisture increased as a result of Palawa cultural fire for at least 18,000 years. This finding challenges the long‐held notion that Tasmania’s wilderness is a product of the absence of human activity. Rather, archaeological sites across western and central Tasmania demonstrate long term presence, with some of the highest artefact and faunal bone densities in the world. The study contributes to the recognition of Tasmania’s west as a cultural landscape shaped by generations of Aboriginal care for Country and fire practices.

No Statistical Difference in Measurements Between Caliper and Apps: A Comparison of Artifact Measurement Methods

Measuring artifacts is a fundamental method of archeological research. Measurements assist scientists in gaining knowledge about past human-animal interactions, the effects of those interactions on ecosystems, environmental changes over time, changes in ecological resources, and much more. The caliper is the traditional tool for such work, but it is uncommon for scientists to carry a set of them around in their bag or pocket while in the field. There is a tool, however, that almost every person carries around with them constantly: the smartphone. In this experiment, we endeavored to discover if two measuring apps, the Ruler app and the ARuler app would make suitable replacements for the caliper when measuring archeological artifacts. Measurements of 50 common Atlantic oyster (Crassostrea virginica) artifacts and 50 faunal bone artifacts of varying species were taken with each tool. The measurements difference between the caliper and each app were found to be significantly less than 1mm in difference (single sample t-test, p <0.05 for oyster and p <0.001 for bone). Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference in measurements taken via any of the methods (ANOVA p >0.96 for both oyster and bone), indicating that the apps are suitable to replace the caliper for archeological measurement. Despite some limitations, this could prove useful for archaeologists in both laboratory and field settings for many reasons, chiefly convenience. Replications of this study and further exploration of the uses for these apps are worth considering.

Neolithisation through bone: Stable isotope analysis of human and faunal remains from Syltholm II, Lolland, Denmark

Despite an increasing number of studies, the application of stable sulfur (δ34S) isotope analysis to prehistoric bone collagen remains in its infancy. Conventionally, stable sulfur isotope compositions reflect coastal proximity and the interaction between humans and animals. Here, we undertook stable carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and sulfur (δ34S) isotope analysis of human and faunal bone collagen. To understand the local environmental conditions as well as the husbandry regime employed by the first farmers, and investigate where the animals were raised or hunted in non-specific terms, we sampled 50 faunal, including wild and domestic taxa, and human remains from the Late Mesolithic to Early-Middle Neolithic (c. 4860–2310 cal BC) site of Syltholm II on the island of Lolland, Denmark. We show that the wild animals were obtained from multiple locations surrounding the prehistoric Syltholm Fjord, including forested and open landscapes, areas impacted by sea spray and saltmarshes. In contrast, the domestic taxa, especially cattle, were tightly managed for the majority of their lives based on their δ13C and δ15N isotope compositions, though were likely raised in multiple locations, including sea spray-affected areas, saltmarshes and wetlands, based on their δ34S values. The domestic dogs had a broad range of δ13C, δ15N and δ34S values, reflecting the consumption of varying degrees of marine foodstuffs, including animals that were sulfide-derived. Overall, our results contribute to a growing body of evidence for possible cultural and animal husbandry duality during the earliest Neolithic in southern Scandinavia.

Integrative approaches to the study of animal management practices during the Neolithic of South Iberian Peninsula: the case of El Toro cave (Antequera, Málaga, Spain)

The introduction and adoption of livestock played a pivotal role in shaping subsistence strategies of populations in the southern Iberian Peninsula during the Neolithic. However, there is lack of information regarding animal management strategies, such as grazing areas and changes in foddering strategies, and their correlation with the environmental characteristics, type of site and use of the settlement. The study of feeding strategies of domesticates provides a crucial information about the interaction between the management of the environment, husbandry systems and the exploitation of animal products. In this study, we use the archaeozoological data and the δ13C and δ15N stable isotope composition of the faunal bone collagen to understand herding systems and management strategies during the Neolithic in Phases IV and IIIB at El Toro cave (Antequera, Málaga). Archaeozoological and isotopic results revealed diverse husbandry practices and feeding strategies in El Toro cave during the Neolithic. The variability in δ13C and δ15N values suggests the access of domesticates to different grazing areas and foddering strategies. This study contributes new insights into husbandry practices during the Neolithic and opens new perspectives for analysing animal management in mountain areas.

Early husbandry practices in highland areas during the Neolithic: the case of Coro Trasito cave (Huesca, Spain)

Research on animal management strategies in high mountain areas during the early Neolithic (5,700–4,500 cal BC) has been conditioned by the presumption that human occupations in highland areas had a prominent seasonal character and the economic practices focused mainly on the exploitation of wild resources. The results obtained in the framework of research developed recently on settlement dynamics during the early Neolithic in the highland areas indicate the existence of relatively permanent occupations and the exploitation of domestic resources. Regarding livestock, the role of caprine transhumance in highland areas has been highlighted traditionally, conferring a marginal role to husbandry activities and emphasizing principally the temporary maintenance of herds of sheep and goats. In this study, we use the archaeozoological data and δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes composition of the faunal bones collagen to characterize the husbandry practices in Coro Trasito cave (Huesca, Spain). The results obtained demonstrated the presence of diverse herd foddering strategies within husbandry practices characterized by taxonomic diversity and multipurpose exploitation suggests that during the Neolithic, Coro Trasito cave played a more complex role than sheepfold. Moreover, the presence of the four main domestic species indicates the adaptation of herds of Coro Trasito to the cave environment, flocks with diverse dietary needs and reproductive behaviors. The results are discussed with an integrated analysis of the data related to animal management strategies in highland areas (more than 1,500 m. asl) during the early Neolithic, in particular in the central Pyrenees area. This study offers new elements to study the complexity of neolithization processes in the central Pyrenees and how these areas were quickly integrated into a broader economic system.

Stable isotope evidence of diet at Las Orquídeas (800 – 200 cal BCE): A Late Formative site in the highlands of Ecuador

In Ecuador, the Formative period (3800 – 300 cal BCE) has long been characterized by the presence of sedentary human settlements and the increased importance of agriculture. For the northern highlands, our knowledge of this period has been based primarily on two sites: Cotocollao and La Chimba. In the last decade, research at the site of Las Orquídeas (San Antonio de Ibarra, Imbabura province) is producing new data for this period. To reconstruct diet at Las Orquídeas, eight human and 13 faunal bone samples were analyzed using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone collagen. The results show that the site’s inhabitants consumed a mix of C3 and C4 resources, along with protein from a number of faunal taxa. Two cervids exhibit isotopic signals that suggest they consumed maize near the settlement. Additionally, the δ13C and δ15N values of the two latest human individuals suggest that diet may have became more variable after 400 cal BCE; this, along with the grave goods interred with one individual, may reflect increased social inequality.

Analysing criteria of formation in multi-stratified karst deposits: the observation of surfaces in Late Pleistocene faunal bones from Mora Cavorso cave (Latium, Central Italy)

ABSTRACT Mora Cavorso cave is mostly known for preserving one of the largest human burials of early Neolithic in Central Italy, but it holds archaeological and palaeontological finds ranging from Late Pleistocene to historical times. The observation of faunal bone surfaces from Late Pleistocene layers has been carried out mainly to verify the human contribution to the formation of the bone accumulations. The assemblages are made up of about 3750 finds, 48% of which taxonomically identified, while 31% of the total show traces of surface alterations. Layer 8, the deeper and partially excavated, shows few traces on 28 finds with a dark patina. For Layer 7, boluses by birds of prey, traces of digestion and gnawing by small carnivores show the main agents of the formation of the bone accumulation. For Layer 6, just a small percentage of finds shows traces referrable mostly to small carnivores, with a few traces referrable to rodents. For Layer 5, gnawing of small carnivores was observed, however the occurrence of burnt bones and cut traces confirmed the hypothesis, based on the discovery of lithic artefacts, that the oldest human attendance in the cave is here attested and dates to Epigravettian period.

Ancient Conflagration: a Reconstruction of a Middle Formative Fire at the Chiripa Mound, Bolivia

In this study, we assess competing interpretations of a burnt ceremonial structure from the terminal Middle Formative period (ca. 300–100 BCE) by analyzing the stepped platform mound at Chiripa, Bolivia, through a systematic reconstruction of the fire that destroyed it. We developed a model of potential fire pathways, their social contexts, and material indicators. Our approach contrasts incipient fires from accident or arson to planned fires initiated for functional or social ends. We assessed these pathways for the Chiripa mound fire through experimental, geoarchaeological, faunal, and botanical data. Experiments were aimed at deducing the temperature, duration, and oxidation conditions of the fire. The fire temperature and duration were approximated from geoarchaeological analyses of construction materials in comparison with controls, and thermal alteration of faunal bone. Fuels were reconstructed through paleoethnobotanical analysis of charred remains from discrete areas within the burnt structure. We conclude that an intentional fire burned the structures on the Chiripa mound to temperatures of 700 °C or higher under oxidizing conditions for several hours. The pattern of heat-altered materials recovered would have required a substantial supplemental fuel load. At the 3840 masl elevation of Chiripa, the effective control of a high temperature oxidizing fire demonstrates technical expertise in fire management. Our findings indicate the fire appears intentional, likely a ritual event. We believe the structures were burned to facilitate a socio-political change during a period of social transition at the end of the Middle Formative period in Bolivia.

Laser ablation strontium isotopes and spatial assignment show seasonal mobility in red deer (Cervus elaphus) at Lazaret Cave, France (MIS 6)

Zooarchaeological analysis is a useful means of exploring faunal palaeoecology, paleoclimate and past human behaviours. The Middle Pleistocene archaeological site Lazaret Cave, located in modern-day Nice, France, features a vast assemblage of faunal remains pertinent to the understanding of early Neanderthal subsistence behaviours as well as red deer (Cervus elaphus) ecology during MIS 6. This pilot study examines materials from archaeological layer UA25, a short-term occupation layer at Lazaret dating to ~150,000 years ka, which has revealed 28 early Neanderthal remains as well as thousands of faunal bones, of which red deer and ibex (Capra ibex) are most abundant. Molars from three red deer mandibles and a single ibex were analysed for strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotopic analysis using laser ablation mass spectrometry to determine animal movements during tooth formation, combined with intra-tooth oxygen (δ18O) isotope analysis to determine seasonality. The isotope data was modelled within a local 87Sr/86Sr isoscape and computational spatial assignment was undertaken to reconstruct potential summer and winter ranges of red deer. Results from this pilot study show seasonal mobility within 20 km of Lazaret, identifying two possible summer and winter ranges for the red deer excavated from UA25. Both possible summer ranges are located at higher elevations further from Lazaret while winter ranges have been assigned to lower elevations closer to the coastline and closer to Lazaret. The ibex shows no 87Sr/86Sr variation throughout the first, second and third molar and the spatial assignment indicates it lived proximal to the site during the period of tooth formation. In addition to providing the first evidence of red deer spatial ecology in southern France during MIS 6, we also infer from the faunal isotope data that hominins at Lazaret Cave were likely hunting red deer in autumn and winter when they were closer to the cave site, while hunting in summer would have required up to 20 km of travel.

What's in a Hearth? Preliminary Findings from the Margal Hunter-Gatherer Habitation in the Eastern Mongolian Gobi Desert

abstract: Today's image of people inhabiting the vast steppe landscapes of Mongolia is inseparably linked to mobile animal herding. Indeed, archaeologists have confirmed that human-animal communities comprised of human herders and domestic livestock roamed across Mongolia's grassland environment and utilized semi-arid to arid regions such as the Gobi steppe desert for thousands of years. However, it is much rarer to catch a glimpse of the time before the advent of pastoralism in this part of the world. During the Neolithic (ca. 6000–1800 b.c.), the Gobi was much less of a desert than it is today. Sparsely scattered archaeological sites testify to the presence of hunter-gatherer groups that successfully exploited rich wetland environments. As a result of the pedestrian survey carried out by the Dornod Mongol Survey in the greater region of Delgerkhaan Uul, we discovered in situ remains of a Neolithic habitation site. Excavations at the Margal site uncovered a stratified hearth and a lithic assemblage embedded in a habitation layer and accompanied by a few faunal bone fragments. Our finds correspond with the Oasis 2 stage (ca. 6000–3000 b.c.) of the scheme established by Janz and colleagues dividing the Mongolian Neolithic into phases based on habitation, as well as subsistence patterns and technology. However, some typical Oasis 2 markers such as pottery and grinding tools are missing from the small assemblage uncovered from test excavations in 2017 and 2018. Margal likely belonged to a regional network of extended hunter-gatherer occupation relying on wild plant and faunal resources. The site represents the first of its kind in the region and has potential to shed light on hunter-gatherer subsistence and habitation decisions. In concert with adjacent archaeological surface scatters and contextualized in the supraregional network of hunter-gatherer habitation, it will contribute to refining current models of lifeways and transformations in Mongolian prehistory.

What’s in a Hearth?: Preliminary Findings from the Margal Hunter-gatherer Habitation in the Eastern Mongolian Gobi Desert

Today’s image of people inhabiting the vast steppe landscapes of Mongolia is inseparably linked to mobile animal herding. Indeed, archaeologists have confirmed that human-animal communities comprised of human herders and domestic livestock roamed across Mongolia’s grassland environment and utilized semiarid to arid regions such as the Gobi steppe desert for thousands of years. However, it is much rarer to catch a glimpse of the time before the advent of pastoralism in this part of the world. During the Neolithic (ca. 6000 – 1800 B.C.), the Gobi was much less of a desert than it is today. Sparsely scattered archaeological sites testify to the presence of hunter-gatherer groups that successfully exploited rich wetland environments. As a result of the pedestrian survey carried out by the Dornod-Mongol-Survey in the greater region of Delgerkhaan Uul, we discovered in situ remains of a Neolithic habitation site. Excavations at the Margal site uncovered a stratified hearth and a lithic assemblage embedded in a habitation layer and accompanied by a few faunal bone fragments. Our finds correspond with the Oasis 2 stage (ca. 6000 – 3000 B.C.) of the scheme established by Janz and colleagues dividing the Mongolian Neolithic into phases based on habitation and subsistence patterns and technology. However, some typical Oasis 2 markers such as pottery and grinding tools are missing from the small assemblage uncovered from test excavations in 2017 and 2018. Margal likely belonged to a regional network of extended hunter-gatherer occupation relying on wild plant and faunal resources. The site represents the first of its kind in the region and has potential to shed light on hunter-gatherer subsistence and habitation decisions. In concert with adjacent archaeological surface scatters and contextualized in the supraregional network of hunter gather habitation, it will contribute to refining current models of lifeways and transformations in Mongolian prehistory.

Multi-isotopic analysis of zooarchaeological material from Estonia (ca. 200-1800 CE): Variation among food webs and geographical regions.

To better comprehend the dietary practices of past populations in the Eastern Baltic region we have created temporally and geographically restricted baselines for the time period of 200-1800 CE. In this multi-isotopic analysis, we report new δ13C, δ15N and δ34S values for 251 faunal bone collagen samples from various archaeological contexts in Estonia representing the most comprehensive set of Iron Age, Medieval and Early Modern Period faunal stable isotope values to date. The results map out the local carbon and nitrogen baselines and define isotopic ranges of local terrestrial, avian and aquatic fauna. We also demonstrate the potential application of sulfur stable isotope analysis in archaeological research. The results demonstrate a clear distinction between δ13C and δ34S values of marine and terrestrial species, however, freshwater fish display notable overlaps with both marine and terrestrial ranges for both δ13C and δ34S values. Herbivores show variation in δ34S values when grouped by region, explained by differences in the local biotopes. This study is the first attempt to connect the Eastern Baltic isotopic baselines and provides more detailed temporal and geographical references to study the local ecologies and interpret the human data.

Effects of consolidants and their removal by polar solvents on the stable isotope compositions of bone

Although conservation practices facilitate the preservation of museum collections, procedures used to stabilize ancient materials can alter their chemical and isotopic compositions, impacting the viability of such specimens for life history investigations. In this study, we applied two common consolidants – polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and acrylic resin (Paraloid B-72™) – followed by two consolidant removal procedures to assess the impacts of these processes on the stable isotope compositions and structural characteristics of a series of subsamples taken from a representative archaeological faunal bone. We examined the collagen (δ13Ccol and δ15Ncol), structural carbonate (δ13Csc and δ18Osc), and phosphate (δ18Op) isotopic compositions of the bone sample before and after consolidation to evaluate consolidant removal procedures. We also measured δ13Csc, δ18Osc, and structural characteristics before and after the pre-treatment commonly used to remove organic matter and secondary carbonate prior to isotopic analyses.Our results produced five main outcomes. First, an acetone treatment shorter than 48 h was sufficient to remove PVAc and acrylic resin from archaeological bone without altering the original δ13Ccol and δ15Ncol. Second, prolonged exposure (>48 h) to polar solvents during the consolidant removal procedure and collagen extraction modified collagen isotopic compositions, lowering its original δ13Ccol by 0.3–0.4 ‰ and increasing its original δ15Ncol by up to 0.9 ‰. Third, the consolidant application and removal procedures altered the original δ13Csc and δ18Osc. Fourth, the change in δ18Osc was likely caused by the bleach (2% NaClO at 20 °C for 72 h)/acetic acid (0.1 M for 4 h at 20 °C) pre-treatment applied prior to isotopic analyses. Fifth, our results confirm and expand on previous studies reporting that δ18Op remains unaltered after consolidant and solvent procedures. These outcomes provide a framework for obtaining reliable stable isotope compositions from archaeological bones that have been stabilized using consolidants.

Multi-isotope zooarchaeological investigations at Abri du Maras: The paleoecological and paleoenvironmental context of Neanderthal subsistence strategies in the Rhône Valley during MIS 3

The exploitation of mid- and large-sized herbivores (ungulates) was central to hominin subsistence across Late Pleistocene Europe. Reconstructing the paleoecology of prey-taxa is key to better understanding procurement strategies, decisions and behaviors, and the isotope analysis of faunal bones and teeth found at archaeological sites represent a powerful means of accessing information about past faunal behaviors. These isotope zooarchaeological approaches also have a near-unique ability to reveal environmental conditions contemporary to the human activities that produced these remains. Here, we present the results of a multi-isotope, multitissue study of ungulate remains from the Middle Paleolithic site of Abri du Maras, southern France, providing new insights into the living landscapes of the Rhône Valley during MIS 3 (level 4.2 = 55 ± 2 to 42 ± 3 ka; level 4.1 = 46 ± 3 to 40 ± 3 ka). Isotope data (carbon, nitrogen) reveal the dietary niches of different ungulate taxa, including the now-extinct giant deer (Megaloceros). Oxygen isotope data are consistent with a mild seasonal climate during level 4.2, where horse (Equus), bison (Bison), and red deer (Cervus elaphus) were exploited year-round. Strontium and sulfur isotope analyses provide new evidence for behavioral plasticity in Late Pleistocene European reindeer (Rangifer) between level 4.2 and level 4.1, indicating a change from the migratory to the sedentary ecotype. In level 4.1, the strong seasonal nature of reindeer exploitation, combined with their nonmigratory behavior, is consistent with a seasonally restricted use of the site by Neanderthals at that time or the preferential hunting of reindeer when in peak physical condition during the autumn.

Bovid Bone Accumulation in Late Middle Palaeolithic Poland

ABSTRACT The hunting activities of Neanderthals inhabiting the European Lowlands during the Weichsel glaciation are poorly understood due to the scarcity of faunal remains. This work concerns the puzzling accumulation of mammalian remains at the Middle Palaeolithic site Haller Av. in Wrocław, southwestern Poland. The site yielded lithic artifacts in two levels and numerous bone remains typical for steppe-tundra fauna, dominated by steppe bison (Bison priscus). As the site was transformed by fluvial processes, the question arose whether the accumulation of faunal bones was the result of human activity. To resolve this question, we used a multiproxy approach, including spatial analysis with GIS, as well as taphonomic and paleozoological analyses. It was found that the accumulation of bone remains was multi-stage and involved a large area. Only the bison remains were spatially correlated with the traces of human activity. In our opinion, these data indicate the presence of a hunting site of monospecific fauna, demonstrating the profound knowledge of Neanderthals about the ecosystem of which they were a part.

The subsistence economy on the northwest edge of the Loess Plateau during c. 4000 a BP: Evidence from stable isotopes

To reveal the relationship between millet-based agriculture and new productivity factors (cattle and sheep husbandry) on the northwest edge of the Loess Plateau during c. 4000 a BP and explore the motivation of social complexity development, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of human (n = 3) and faunal (n = 53) bones from the Bicun site, Xing county, Shanxi, China, were undertaken. The results show that some humans (–7.3‰, 8.8‰, n = 1), pigs (–7.9 ± 1.7‰, 5.9 ± 0.7‰, n = 15), and dogs (–7.8 ± 0.3‰, 7.5 ± 0.4‰, n = 2) mainly lived on millet-based food, while other humans (–13.4 ± 0.2‰, 6.7 ± 1.0‰, n = 2), cattle (–13.9 ± 1.3‰, 5.6 ± 0.6‰, n = 11), and sheep (–16.0 ± 1.1‰, 5.3 ± 0.7‰, n = 15) lived on C3/C4 mixed food. Cattle and sheep not only grazed in wild ecosystems but also ate millet and its byproducts as fodder. Many deep gullies and ravines on the northwest edge of the Loess Plateau are not suitable for the development of millet agriculture but are the ideal pasture for herding cattle and sheep, which undoubtedly promoted material productivity. Instead of encroaching on the development of pig feeding, cattle and sheep husbandry made the utilization of millet-based food more effective. However, wheat and barley did not affect the diets of humans and animals. A new economic mode with millet-based agriculture and new productivity elements provides a solid material foundation for the great development of archaeological cultures and social complexity on the northwest edge of the Loess Plateau during c. 4000 a BP.

Changing Land Use and Political Economy at Neolithic and Bronze Age Knossos, Crete: Stable Carbon (δ13C) and Nitrogen (δ15N) Isotope Analysis of Charred Crop Grains and Faunal Bone Collagen

Excavations at Knossos have uncovered faunal and archaeobotanical archives spanning the Neolithic and Bronze Age (7th–2nd millennia bce), during which one of Europe’s earliest known farming settlements developed into its first major urban settlement and centre of one of its oldest regional states. Through stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) analysis of seeds and bones (as evidence for the growing conditions of cereal and pulse crops and for the types of forage consumed by livestock), land use and, ultimately, political economy are explored. Changing husbandry conditions overwrite any effects of long-term aridification. Early (7th–6th millennium bce) Knossian farmers grew intensively managed cereals and pulses (probably in rotation) that were closely integrated (as manured sources of forage) with livestock. Through the later Neolithic and Bronze Age, settlement growth accompanied more extensive cultivation (eventually with cereals and pulses not in rotation) and greater use of rough graze and, by goats, browse. Pasture on cultivated land remained central, however, to the maintenance of sheep, cattle, and pigs. Variable diet of early sheep suggests management at the household level, while thereafter progressive dietary divergence of sheep and goats implies their separate herding. Until the Old Palace phase (early 2nd millennium bce), urban growth was matched by increasingly extensive and probably distant cultivation and herding but somewhat more intensive conditions during the New and Final Palace phases (mid-2nd millennium bce) perhaps reflect greater reliance on surplus from prime land of previously rival centres that now came under Knossian control.

A burning question: What experimental heating of Australian fauna can tell us about cooking practices in Boodie Cave, Barrow Island, northwest Australia

Burning characteristics of bone are dependent on taxa, bone condition, and heating method. Until now, heating characteristics of Australia’s unique fauna were undocumented. Here we present heating experiments of Australian taxa using a laboratory kiln, hearth fires and earth ovens, and apply the results to faunal assemblages from Boodie Cave, northwest Australia. Results indicate comparable burning characteristics in Australian faunal bone to previous experimental research, with clear differences in the temperature at which burning characteristics occur between taxa and in particular marine and terrestrial fauna. Earth oven cooking causes very limited burning of the extremities of faunal bones, whilst hearth fires produce a high degree of non-uniform calcination and fracturing. In the Boodie Cave assemblage, low levels of heating throughout the deposit are consistent with post-depositional burning and fleshed cooking, though the exact heating process remains unclear in the absence of any identified combustion features.