Herd management and the social role of herding at Neolithic ĂatalhĆyĆ±k : an investigation using oxygen isotope and dental microwear evidence in sheep
Many Neolithic settlements in southwest Asia maintained economic dependence on domestic caprine herds over long periods. This thesis explores the success of sheep herding in one 1200 year-old Neolithic settlement â ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk, Central Anatolia (7400 â 6200 cal. BC). The evidence from two datasets is used to expand knowledge of the seasonal management of domestic sheep herds and their food resources. Successful herding is measured in terms of being able to maintain good husbandry practices whilst meeting the needs of the settlement. Samples of archaeological sheepâs teeth from ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk are used in two ways: sequential oxygen isotope values from a sheepâs second mandibular molar give seasonality evidence during the first year of a sheepâs life, and are used to establish the birth season and mobility patterns over the year. Dental microwear analysis of the same toothâs occlusal surface provides evidence of the dietary regime in the last few weeks of that sheepâs life, and is used to distinguish the type and quality of diet before slaughter. Together, the data outline a life history for each sheep, and are used to reveal the pattern of herding control and food resource manipulation. ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk
Henton, E. M.
Herd management and the social role of herding at Neolithic ĂatalhĆyĆ±k : an investigation using oxygen isotope and dental microwear evidence in sheep. Many Neolithic settlements in southwest Asia maintained economic dependence on domestic caprine herds over long periods. This thesis explores the success of sheep herding in one 1200 year-old Neolithic settlement â ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk, Central Anatolia (7400 â 6200 cal. BC). The evidence from two datasets is used to expand knowledge of the seasonal management of domestic sheep herds and their food resources. Successful herding is measured in terms of being able to maintain good husbandry practices whilst meeting the needs of the settlement. Samples of archaeological sheepâs teeth from ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk are used in two ways: sequential oxygen isotope values from a sheepâs second mandibular molar give seasonality evidence during the first year of a sheepâs life, and are used to establish the birth season and mobility patterns over the year. Dental microwear analysis of the same toothâs occlusal surface provides evidence of the dietary regime in the last few weeks of that sheepâs life, and is used to distinguish the type and quality of diet before slaughter. Together, the data outline a life history for each sheep, and are used to reveal the pattern of herding control and food resource manipulation. ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk
herd management social_role herd neolithic investigation use oxygen_isotope dental evidence sheep many neolithic_settlement southwest_asia maintain economic dependence domestic caprine herd long_period explores success sheep herd neolithic_settlement aatalhapyaoek central_anatolia cal evidence datasets use expand knowledge seasonal management domestic sheep herd food resource successful measure term able_maintain good husbandry_practice whilst meet_need settlement samples archaeological sheep teeth aatalhapyaoek use two_way sequential oxygen_isotope value sheep second mandibular molar give seasonality evidence sheep life use establish birth season mobility_pattern year dental analysis tooth surface provide_evidence dietary regime sheep life use distinguish type quality diet slaughter together data outline life_history sheep use reveal pattern herd control food resource manipulation aatalhapyaoek