Neolithic agricultural management in the Eastern Mediterranean : new insight from a multi-isotope approach
The work presented in this dissertation explores the nature of agro-pastoral strategies developed by Neolithic farmers as a way to understand how early food production was inter-twined with environmental and socio-economic opportunities and constraints. Towards this end, a multi-isotope approach is used to address questions of scale and intensity of crop cultivation and animal management at the archaeological sites of Kouphovouno, southern Greece, Makriyalos, northern Greece, and CÌ§atalhoÌyuÌk, south-central Turkey. Measurements of stable carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and strontium isotope values of carbonized plant remains, human and animal bone collagen and animal tooth enamel are used to examine the similarities and differences in the types of treatments that individual species of plants and animals received during the agricultural cycle at the distinct locations. The results show that farmers at the three sites developed variable methods for exploiting the arable and pastoral landscape and catering to their economic and culinary needs. The discussion considers the implications of these findings to our understanding of the complexity and adaptability of early farming systems.
Vaiglova, Petra
Archaeology ; Isotope dilution analysis ; Neolithic period ; stable carbon isotopes ; Anatolian Neolithic ; stable nitrogen isotopes ; stable oxygen isotopes ; Aegean Neolithic ; strontium isotopic ratios
Neolithic agricultural management in the Eastern Mediterranean : new insight from a multi-isotope approach. The work presented in this dissertation explores the nature of agro-pastoral strategies developed by Neolithic farmers as a way to understand how early food production was inter-twined with environmental and socio-economic opportunities and constraints. Towards this end, a multi-isotope approach is used to address questions of scale and intensity of crop cultivation and animal management at the archaeological sites of Kouphovouno, southern Greece, Makriyalos, northern Greece, and CÌ§atalhoÌyuÌk, south-central Turkey. Measurements of stable carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and strontium isotope values of carbonized plant remains, human and animal bone collagen and animal tooth enamel are used to examine the similarities and differences in the types of treatments that individual species of plants and animals received during the agricultural cycle at the distinct locations. The results show that farmers at the three sites developed variable methods for exploiting the arable and pastoral landscape and catering to their economic and culinary needs. The discussion considers the implications of these findings to our understanding of the complexity and adaptability of early farming systems.
neolithic agricultural management eastern_mediterranean new_insight multi isotope approach work_present explores nature agro_pastoral strategy develop neolithic farmer way early food_production inter environmental socio_economic opportunity constraint towards_end multi isotope use address_question scale intensity crop cultivation animal management archaeological_site southern greece makriyalos northern_greece cissatalhoiyuik south_central turkey stable_carbon nitrogen oxygen strontium isotope_value plant_remain human_animal bone_collagen animal tooth_enamel use examine similarity_difference type treatment individual specie plant_animal receive agricultural cycle distinct location show farmer three_site develop variable method exploit arable pastoral landscape cater economic culinary need discussion considers_implication finding complexity adaptability early_farming system